EFFECTS OF SOME WEATHER ELEMENTS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF MALARIA, TYPHOID AND TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN ONITSHA NORTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.
EFFECTS OF SOME WEATHER ELEMENTS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF MALARIA, TYPHOID AND TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN ONITSHA NORTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.
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Date
2016-05
Authors
ANUMONYE, Elizabeth Nkolika
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Abstract
Human health is affected by weather elementssuch as temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, wind
direction and others. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of rainfall, temperature and
relative humidity on the occurrence of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis in Onitsha North LGA,
Anambra State, this was achieved through the following objectives; determine the pattern of
occurrence of rainfall, temperature and relative humidity, determine the pattern of distribution of
cases of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis, determine the pattern of distribution of cases of malaria,
typhoid and tuberculosis and to determine the seasonality of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis
(2004-2013).Records of rainfall, temperature and relative humidity was obtained from Anambra
State NIMET office, Awkaand the records of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis cases from the
selected hospitals(2004-2013) were also used to carry out this study. Time series analysis was used
to analyze the trends of each of the data collected. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis
was used to analyze the relationship between the occurrenceof the three diseases and the climatic
parameters. The seasonal occurrence of the diseases was analyzed by dividing the year into cold dry
season, hot dry season and rainy season. The analysisshowed that rainfall, relative humidity and
malaria exhibited decreasing trends while temperature, typhoid and tuberculosis exhibited
increasing trendswithin the period 2004-2013. The correlation analysis indicated that malaria,
typhoid and tuberculosis are influenced differently by the various weather elements. Rainfall showed
a significant relationship with malaria with an r value of 0.646 and an insignificant relationship
with typhoid and tuberculosis having r values of 0.519 and -0.341 respectively, while temperature
showed no significant relationship with any of three diseases with malaria having an r value of 0.194,
typhoid; -0.253 and tuberculosis; -0.102. Relative humidity showed a significant relationship
with malaria and typhoidwith r values of 0.852 and 0.807 respectively and an insignificant
relationship with tuberculosis with r value of -0.427. The seasonal analysis showed that malaria and
typhoid had their highest number of occurrences in the rainy season with 84.87 and 2.46 cases and
their lowest in the cold dry season with 76.62 and 1.75 cases relatively, while tuberculosis had its
highest number of occurrence in the cold dry season with 16.97 cases and the lowest reported case
reported in the rainy season with 11.31 cases. The hypothesis was tested and accepted in the case of
tuberculosis and rejected in the case of malaria and typhoid in the study area. It was recommended
that all the three tiers of government should come up with enlightenment programs should be
conducted to educate people on the effect of climate change on the occurrence of diseases; to also
provide safe and adequate drinking water for the masses; and provide free mosquito nets for the
residents of the area. The people on the other hand should improve on their sanitation in their
environment.
Description
ADISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER DEGREE OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) IN
GEOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EFFECTS,, WEATHER ELEMENTS,, OCCURRENCE,, MALARIA,, TYPHOID,, TUBERCULOSIS CASES,, ONITSHA NORTH LGA,, ANAMBRA STATE,, NIGERIA