Addressing equity gaps in fall-related injuries

Falls cause a major burden of death and disability globally, but the burden is not equitably distributed: while the age-standardised incidence of injuries from falls declined from 1990 to 2017 in high Socio-demographic Index quintiles, incidence increased in the low-income and middle-income quintiles.

This pattern, however, is not surprising, given that falls—like many other injuries—are partly driven by social determinants of health, leading to gross inequities. Poor-quality housing, inadequate workplace safety, systemic and institutional racism, and the absence of standards for consumer product safety are all factors that contribute to the incidence of falls in resource-constrained settings worldwide. Recognising this substantial and inequitable burden, in 2021, WHO's Step Safely technical package was published to provide global guidance on fall prevention strategies..