Gendered impacts of 2022 floods on livelihoods and health vulnerability of rural communities in select Southern states in Nigeria

Abstract

Social factors, gender norms and roles as well as biological and physiological differences lead to the gender gap in post-disaster vulnerabilities. This emphasizes the need to adopt a vulnerability approach in disaster management. This study investigated the impact of the 2022 floods in Nigeria on the health and livelihoods of men and women in select Southern states. The authors adopted a mixed-method approach. The survey was used to gather data from 383 persons affected by the floods, and an in-depth interview was conducted with six flood-affected persons. The norms and roles of women in their homes and the wider communities exposed them to vulnerabilities during the floods. As a result, more women than men lost their lives, jobs, and sources of livelihood during the floods. The women suffered more health vulnerabilities during and after the floods, were more traumatized, fell more ill as a result of the trauma caused by the flood, and suffered more from poor sanitary conditions after (and as a result of) the floods. It was concluded that inequalities in exposure and sensitivity to risk along with differences in access to resources, opportunities, and capabilities systematically hinder women and make them more vulnerable to the effects of floods in Nigeria. The contribution of this study to practice is that there should be a gendered response to disasters in Nigeria, and disaster planners should address the different needs of men and women, boys and girls.