EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE HEALTH OF RURAL FARMERS IN OFFA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines the effect of climate change on the health of rural farmers in Offa, Kwara State. Nigeria. For the purpose of achieving the objective of the study Ninety-eight (98) respondents were randomly sample from ten wards. Data were collected through interview schedules couple with a well structure questionnaire. The data were analysed through the use of frequency count, simple percentage an pearson product moment correlation (PPMC). The result of the study indicated that the mean age is 45.5%. 68.4% are male. 53.1% were married. 72.4% were literate with only 14.3% non-literate. The study further revealed a significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their present health status (r=0.344,p=0.001 α=0.05) The study also revealed a significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their perceived source of information of the respondents on climate change were through radio/television mean=61.3 while only few mean=36.3 heard from research institute, majority of the respondents health status were good 49.0% they usually have deviation from normal health status as a consequence of climate change. The common ailment the experience is malaria 31.6% while only few had headache and cholera 3.1%. It was concluded that their major source of information on climate change was through radio. More so it was deduced from the study that malaria is the most common and severe diseases affecting the respondents with tuberculosis which is less severe. It was recommended that government should educate farmers through the mass media such as use of radio, newspaper and television on the need to plant tree to combat the effect of the ozone layers’ depletion which is also associated to climate change