The current situation and some factors related to accident injuries of elderly in Dak Rlap distrist, Dak Nong province in 2022

Abstract

Injuries pose a significant health burden on the elderly, their families, and society. In Vietnam, data from 2015 to 2017 revealed that 16.38% of injury-related deaths in the elderly were due to accidents. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2022 with 600 elderly individuals residing in Dak R’Lap district, Dak Nong province, selected through a multi-stage random sampling method using a questionnaire-based interview. The findings indicated that 37.83% of participants had experienced injuries. Falls were the leading cause, accounting for 44.93%, followed by traffic accidents at 33.92%, and animal attacks or insect bites and stings at 14.98%. The study identified significant associations between age (OR = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.26 – 2.95), chronic diseases (OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.45 – 2.96), need for assistance (OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.09 – 2.53), and slippery floors or yards (OR = 2.32, 95%CI: 1.55 – 3.47) with injury risk in the elderly. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening cognitive and behavioral interventions to prevent and mitigate injury risks for older adults, caregivers, and those with chronic conditions, tailored to specific age
groups and support needs.