Flooding and It’s Health Effects Among Residents of Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

David; Akeutol PhD

doi:10.56201/ijhpr.vol.10.no10.2025.pg7.18

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Flooding and It’s Health Effects Among Residents of Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

David, Akeutol PhD

Abstract

Flooding and its health effects among residents of Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, is a public health concern as flood is a natural disaster that sterns from accumulation of water which increases to overflow and find its way into farm lands, roads including houses. Factors like poor/blocked drainages among others worsen flooding events. The aim of this study was to investigate flooding and its health effects among residents of Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa State and the specific objectives were to determine the knowledge of flooding among residents, ascertain factors contributing to flooding in the area, ascertain the health effects of flooding among residents, and to identify the coping strategies among victims of flooding in the study area. A multi- stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. The instrument for data collection was well structured questionnaire which was administered to 210 respondents with the aid of three well trained research assistants, only 200 questionnaires were well filled giving a return rate of 92.5%; observational checklist on the study area was also used. Results from the study revealed that 89% had been victims of flooding; 171 (85.5%) submitted that there is frequent flooding during the rainy season in Sagbama LGA. 32% said overflow of river causes the flooding, 30% linked the flooding to rising water ways, 25.5% linked it to opening of dams, while 12.5% traced it to heavy rainfall. Majority (88%) of the respondents had experienced fever, 60% for cholera, 76.5% for malaria, 91% for cold; 70% cough/ throat infection and 57.5% for skin diseases/ foot sores. 91.5% had experienced anxiety and 71% for high blood pressure. Majority (66.5%) of the respondents had experienced Post-Traumatic stress (PTS). Majority of respondents (43.5%) relocated and only 10% received help from the Government during flooding. It is concluded that there is flooding in Sagbama LGA and reside

Keywords

FloodingHealth EffectsSagbama L.G.AResidentsDrainage system.

References

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Flooding and It’s Health Effects Among Residents of Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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