Prevalence and Determinants of Self-Reported Injuries among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the Philippines: A 10-Year Pooled Analysis

Abstract

Injury among older adults is a serious health concern, but little information is known about it, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, and examine the socioeconomic, demographic, and health determinants of, self-reported injuries among older Filipinos. Using a pooled data of 21,316 community-dwelling residents aged 60 years or over from three waves of the Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between participants’ characteristics and reports of injuries. The total prevalence of self-reported injuries over a 10-year period was at 1.2%. Older adults with either government or private health insurance were more likely to report experiencing injuries (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14–2.11), regardless of socio-demographic and economic status. In contrast, female older adults were found to be associated with a lower likelihood of self-reported injuries, after adjustment for other variables (AOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.53–0.88). Older adults who attained secondary education or higher also showed a lower likelihood of self-reported injuries (AOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31–0.92). The proportion of older adults with injuries in the Philippines is still relatively low. However, preventive approaches with a special focus on gender, educational attainment, and health insurance status of older adults are warranted.