FACTORS OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Climate variability causes adverse social effects which negatively impinge on the well-being of people, particularly, the rural dwellers. However, there is inadequate information on the isolation of vulnerability factors of the rural dwellers to adverse social effects of climate variability to help develop robust mitigation and adaptation measures. A total of 90 households were sampled, using closed and open-ended questionnaire for data collection. The data were analyzedusing descriptive statistical tools, and factor analysis using principal component approach, to isolate critical factors. The result of data analysis revealed that 52.7% of the respondents were women, most of the respondents (80%) were between the ages of 60-80years and majority (64%) had no formal education. The result of factor analysis revealed that 17 factors influence social vulnerability namely: local resources inaccessibility, climate information/communication source, social capital/social safety net, climate knowledge barrier, population increase, the age of residents, gender inequality, tribal issues/public assault//insecurity and infrastructure inaccessibility. Others include loss of properties and accommodation, mobility, environment/social discrimination, a local institution, income /employment replacement, cultural constraint, family structure, and disability. Based on these findings, all relevant agencies, community organizations and public-spirited individuals should join hands to provide the disadvantaged households with safety nets towards helping communities in any geographical context of their vulnerabilities. Effort must be made to enhance allocation of resources to maintain healthy safety nets. New modalities will have to be sought and developed so that vulnerable women and men can directly receive the benefit safety net practices to reduce household vulnerabilities to weather shocks and stresses.