Socio economic and health challenges of internally-displaced persons as a result of 2012 flooding in Nigeria

Abstract

Displaced people are faced with over-crowded conditions in camps with children being the most vulnerable. This is because they are faced with myriad of challenges such as poor nutrition, breakdown of health infrastructure, disease epidemics, looting and violence. Others include unprotected sex especially when separated from their families. Displaced persons are prey to a host of diseases, most of which could be prevented. In this study the socio-economic and health impacts among internally displaced persons (IDPs) following floods in Nigeria were identified. Information on social, economic and health issues obtained from 432 household heads, nursing mothers and pregnant women from 17 IDP camps in three states was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Majority (58%) of IDPs had their occupation as farming and as a result of the flood, 299 (69.2%) people lost their means of livelihood with a concomitant decrease in income to a mean of $35.2. Victims' nutrition was affected, resulting 63.3 % having less to eat. Though the major source of water to the IDPs before the flood was rivers/streams and wells, there was no statistical significance (p=0.99) between the major source of water to the community even when they had access to pipe-borne water after the disaster.

Climate Change and African Migrant Health

“…Therefore, immigrants are often faced with health issues including open defecation and a lack of or inadequate water and sanitation systems. Similarly, the authors of a cross-sectional study conducted among IDPs affected by flooding in Nigeria also suggest the significant level of sickness observed among their respondents may be due to overcrowding [ 10 ].…”

“…A study [ 10 ] reported that IDPs across three states in Nigeria who were affected by the flooding had reduced access to healthcare due to damage to the infrastructure. Specifically, only 8 (57%) of the 14 pregnant women interviewed had access to antenatal care, primarily due to a lack of money to access care and transportation to the nearest facility.…”

“…A study [ 10 ] reported their study participants (IDPs affected by flooding) had significantly better feeding habits before the disaster; however, they noted that they did not consider the quality and class of the food. Lindvall et al [ 14 ] also report that drought may lead to the loss of livestock, which consequently affects the health and nutrition of people.…”

Assessment of potential factors that support the endemicity of cholera in Nigeria from food handlers, health workers and the environment

“…The transmission of V. cholerae and other diarrheal causing pathogens in the community is driven most often by the contamination of water sources and food products with feces due to improper disposal of fecal matter and poor personal hygiene practice (5,7). Food handlers and health workers have been identified as potential transmission portals through which other persons in the community get infected with pathogens of public health significance (2,11).…”