EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON THE RESIDENTS OF ASABA METROPOLIS.

EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON THE RESIDENTS OF ASABA METROPOLIS.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of Covid-19 on the residents of Asaba Metropolis. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design in administering the research instrument (questionnaire) to the respondents in the study area. For the purpose of this study, data were collected from two main sources: Primary and Secondary sources. The data was presented in tables, statistical diagrams and analyzed with the aid of percentage and averages. The descriptive statistical technique was used to analyze the data collected while the chi-square method was used to test the hypothesis formulated. The result of the hypothesis indicated that there is significant difference between access to health facilities before and after the covid-19 pandemic in Asaba Metropolis. The findings also revealed that Covid-19 pandemic have significant effects on the environment. The findings also showed that Covid-19 has significant effect on the socio-economic activities of Asaba Metropolis. It recommended amongst others that the government of Nigeria should lay emphasis on the protection of citizens through intervention in health sector. This should be done through identifying various health centers/hospitals that needs renovation/rehabilitation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page - - - - - - - - i

Certification - - - - - - - - iii

Dedication - - - - - - - - iv

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - v

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - vi

List of Tables - - - - - - - - ix

List of Figure - - - - - - - - x

Abstract - - - - - - - - xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Background to the study - - - - - 1

1.2 Statement of Problem - - - - - - 5

1.3. Objective of the Study - - - - - - 6

1.4. Hypotheses - - - - - - - 6

1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - 7

I .6 Study Area - - - - - - - 8

CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Conceptual Framework - - - - - - 13

2.2 Literature Review - - - - - - - 18

2.2.1 Coronavirus: Definition and Scope - - - - -18

2.2.2 Transmission and Symptoms of COVID-19 - - - -22

2.2.3 Prevalence of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria - - - -24

2.2.4 Effects of Covid-19 on Residents - - - - -27

2.3 Summary of Literature Review - - - - - -34

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. 1.   Research Design - - - - - 35

3.2.    Types and Sources of Data Collection - - - 35

3.3 Population of the Study - - - - - - 36

3.4.    Sampling Framework - - - - - -36

3.5 Determination of Sample Size - - - - - 37

3.6 Research Instrument - - - - - - -37

3.7 Validity of Research Instrument - - - - - 38

3.8 Reliability of Research Instrument - - - - 39

3.9 Methods of Data Collection - - - - - 39

3.10 Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - 40

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1.     Data Presentation and Analysis- - - - - -41

4.2 Questionnaires Administration in Asaba Metropolis - - -41

4.2.1 Personal Information of Respondents - - - - -42

4.2.2 Level of Access to Health Facilities during Covid-19 - - -45

4.2.3 Effects of Covd-19 on residents of Asaba Metropolis - - 46

4.3 Testing of Hypotheses - - - - - - 50

4.4 Discussion of Findings - - - - - - 54

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1. Summary of the Findings - - - - - - -57

5.2. Conclusion  - - - - - - - - -58

5.3. Recommendations - - - - - - - -59

REFERENCES  - - - - - - - - -60

APPENDIX I- - - - - - - - -70

LISTS OF TABLES

Table 4.1: Sex of Respondents - - - - - - - 42

Table 4.2: Age of Respondents - - - - - -   - 42

Table 4.3: Educational status of respondents - - - - - 43

Table 4.4: Occupational Status - - - - - - - 43

Table 4.5: Family Size - - - - - - - - 44

Table 4.6: Disruption to health care services - - - - - 45

Table 4.7: Effects of Covd-19 on the environment - - - - 46

Table 4.8: Effect of COVID-19 on Socio-economic Activities and Coping

                 Mechanisms - - - - - - - - 48

Table 4.9: Differences between access to health facilities before and after the covid-19 pandemic in the area - - - - - 50

Table 4.10: Chi-square analysis - - - - - - - 50

Table 4.11: Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on the environment - - 51

Table 4.12: Chi-square analysis - - - - - - - 52

Table 4.13: Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on socio-economic activities - 53

Table 4.14: Chi-square analysis - - - - - - - 53

LIST OF FIGURE

Fig. 1.1: Map of the Study Area (Asaba)   8

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

History has it that the Coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 outbreak emanated as an epidemic in the city of Wuhan, China in December 2019 and over a short time became a pandemic which is currently affecting the entire world without exception (Etukudoh, Ejinaka, Olowu, Obeta, Adebowale & Udoudoh, 2020). The developed world (USA, Italy, France) are most hit by the pandemic in terms of number of infections and causalities as well as the developing economy such as Brazil and India. At a point, the COVID-19 brought the world to her knees and is still causing great havoc in virtually all the sectors of the economy and on the environment (WHO, 2020a; Nassiri, 2020). Despite the high death rates in the developed world, the African people and the economy are worst affected. Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa that is presently witnessing tremendously upsurge of COVID-19 cases since 27th February, 2020 when the index case was recorded in Lagos (African Women Unite against Destructive Resources Extraction, 2020; UN Inter Agency Network on Youth Development, 2020). It is an Italian citizen who was in Nigeria on business trip. Since, then the case keeps in number of confirmed cases and death. National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported the cases in as at 1st September, 2020 to be: Sample Tested 405,916; Confirmed Cases 54,247; Active Cases 11,214; Discharged Cases 42,010; Death 1,023 (NCDC, 2020).

According to World Health Organization, the disease broke out on 31st December 2019 in Wuhan, a city in eastern China with a population of over 11 million people. What started as an epidemic in China was designated a public health concern by World Health Organization on 30th January, 2020. And on 11th March, 2020 the World Health Organization officially declared Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic which needed to be taken serious by the whole world. According to John Hopkins University Covid-19 dashboard which collects information from National and International health authorities, the world has already recorded 19,024,700 confirmed cases, 11,594,817 recovered cases and 709,282 deaths globally as of 7th August, 2020. The disease has been detected in more than 180 countries and territories with United States of America, Brazil, India, Russia and Mexico experiencing the most widespread outbreaks worldwide. Nigeria, unfortunately, confirmed its first case on 27th February, 2020 (WHO, 2020).

The corona virus pandemic has influenced significant global crisis and the greatest effects are being experienced by the poor, local habitants, the public and civil servants especially in the private sectors all over the world. On African countries such as Nigeria, the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting many economic sectors, social environmental crises such as the unemployment, closure of markets and factories, hunger, increase in poverty levels, social violence such as increase rate of rape cases, civil unrest, climate change, environmental degradation, increase in generation of waste and land grabs among others (African Women Unite against Destructive Resources Extraction, 2020).

Nigeria a densely populated country with low healthcare infrastructure and multiple preexisting fragilities is currently battling to manage the pandemic (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, 2020). Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian governments and all other concerned stakeholders have made various efforts to flatten the curve of the spread of the disease (Mustapha, Adedokun & Abdullahi, 2020; Olanrewaju & Olowoporoku, 2020). Efforts made by the government to manage the spread of this disease include population disaggregation with stay at home orders, closure of learning institutions, restrictions/ban on public gatherings, public awareness for the promotion of proper sanitation habits, social distancing etc. (Bassey & Akaninyene, 2020). These actions popularly known as the lockdown in the country has led to change in household waste generation, disposal and sanitation behaviour.

The outbreak in Nigeria has so far spread to all the States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Record shows that Lagos has the highest cases of the Covid-19 and Kaduna a state in the Northwest rank 6thin terms of confirmed cases with 2,141 as at 1st September, 2020. Furthermore, it is estimated that 29% of the country’s disease burden is linked to risk factors in the environment being the home of man. The environment is the sum total of all surroundings of living organisms; the aggregate of social, cultural, physical, chemical and biotic factors that influence the life of organisms, individuals and communities. It is very pertinent to note that the environment is very patient and absorbs both natural and anthropogenic activities but never forgives and gives back severely to the offender (WHO, 2020). Arguably, man through various anthropogenic activities has done more harm than good to the environment. These activities of man have resulted to numerous environmental problems that are bedevilling the world especially the developing economy. While the developed world has imbedded the concept of environmental sustainability, same cannot be said of the underdeveloped world such as Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of Problem

In developing economies like Nigeria with 69 percent of people living below poverty level, it is important the impact of coronavirus should not only be seen from the angle of health and economic crises but also the social crises which impact can only be imagine from a position of a profound disadvantage society. The UNDP have predicted that, income losses in developing economies are expected to exceed $220 billion with an estimated 55 percent of the global population with no access to social protection to suffer the impact of this pandemic more on education, human rights and in most severe cases, basic food security and Nutrition. Also, according to the Sun newspaper of Monday, June 29th 2020, the World Bank has predicted an estimated 95.7 million Nigerians would be joining extremely poor countries across the world by 2022 due to the impact of coronavirus pandemic. This is in addition to a previous report stating that before covid-19 outbreak, 90 million Nigerians were already living in extreme poverty of less than a dollar per day. While there is much focus by analyst and researches in assessing the impact of coronavirus at National, and global level, Ortserga (2017), have argued that such analysis hardly capture the real impact on the people who form the foundation on which the economy stands and is supported, as both National economic growth and development are products of a localize system that cannot be effectively analyze and understood at the topmost level without understanding the foundation on which such economy structure is formed. It is on this bases that the study analyzes the effects of coronavirus using aggregate data to bring out issues of concern to both policy makers and planners. The central issue the study address is the effects of coronavirus with focus on protecting livelihoods of the urban poor in Asabai, Delta State Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The major objective of the study is to examine the effects of COVID-19 on residents of Asaba Metropolis. It specific objectives are to:

i. ascertain the level of access to health facilities during covid-19 in Asaba Metropolis

ii. examine the effects of covd-19  on the environment of Asaba Metropolis

iii. determine the effect of covid-19 on socio-economic activities in Asaba Metropolis

1.4  Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study;

1. There is no significant difference between access to health facilities before and after the covid-19 pandemic in Asaba Metropolis.

2. Covid-19 pandemic does not have significant effects on the environment.

3. Covid-19 has no significant effect on the socio-economic activities of Asaba Metropolis.

1.5  Significance of the Study

The study focuses on the effects of COVID-19 on residents of Asaba Metropolis. First, it will contributes to the emerging literature on environmental effects of COVID-19 by providing empirical work on access to health facilities before and after the covid-19 pandemic, increase in the generation of medical infectious waste and rate of waste collections and the impact of coronavirus on livelihoods of the people of Asaba.

Secondly, from a policy perspective, this study would enable the government of Nigeria to identify gaps in its outbreak mitigation strategies that aim to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. For instance, regarding COVID-19 information, the government may consider using multiple channels in order to get vital information to various segments of the population.

As there is no prior study, hence it is expected that this study will expose the existent scenario with safety equipment’s use and their disposal practices amid COVID19 in Asaba, which might be helpful for the local administrations and policymakers.

1.6    Study Area

1.6.1 Location and Size

The study area is located in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.  Asaba is located between latitude 6°17' and 6°2'N and longitude 6°24' and 6°45'E with an area extent of 2 about 773km (Fig. 1.1). Asaba is chosen for this study because it exhibits as part of the variables homogenous socio-economic and cultural characteristics and falls within the same agro-climatic and other geography conditions (Enebeli, 2017).

1.6.2 Geology and Relief

The geological surface of the study area is made up of lateritic sand, clay and sandstone with occasional lignite seam which is the characteristic of the Asaba-Ogwashi formation, Ameki and Ogwashi- Asaba formations in the northeast of Delta State and the coastal plain sands (Benin formation) that astride the northern boundary with Edo State and beyond (Ejemeyovwi, 2015a). The Ogwashi-Asaba formation is made up of coarse grained sands containing lignite and peaty clay seams.

Asaba is generally low lying sedimentary terrain, generally flat and has gentle slope which lies in the coastal plain of Southern Nigeria. The area is gently undulating plain without even a single hill rising above the general land surface. The mean elevation of the area is generally below 50 metres above sea level which favour the growth of rice (Okpor, 2002).

1.6.3 Vegetation and Climate

The vegetation is that of the tropical rainforest belt characterized by dense vegetation cover consisting of evergreen forest of tall trees with undergrowth of climbing plants that are closed together along the streams and creek channels and this normally typifies primary vegetation while the presence of grassland with sparse trees and shrubs typified the secondary vegetation pattern within the vegetation belt (Enebeli, 2017). The vegetation is tropical evergreen rainforest with tall trees and undergrowth. This has been interfered by anthropogenic activities such as farming, bush burning, grazing and rapid development in the area which has contributed to air pollution in one way or the other. Due to these effects, the vegetation of the study area has been observed as mainly of secondary type with patches of trees in grassland. The natural vegetation of Asaba are the tropical rainforest (Enebeli, 2017). The plant community is basically of evergreen species that yield hardwood e.g Entaudrophragma Spp, Melicia excelsa, Khaya Ivorensis, Lovoa trchiliodes etc. Grassland vegetation is also found in many areas in Asaba, mainly in patches (Julius, 2009).

The major factor that is responsible for the changes in the climate of Asaba includes the falling of trees (deforestation) and farming thereby causing the climate prevailing in the area to be quite distinct from that of the surrounding since the thermal equilibrium of the area have been altered (Julius, 2009). In the rainy season, high rainfall and poorly drained soil of low retention capacity results in wide spread flooding and erosion. Thus, 80% of the entire area is flooded with the rivers overflowing their banks at the peak of wet season as the coastline is buffeted throughout the year by tidal current (tides) of the Niger and indeed Astlantic Ocean (Ejemeyovwi, 2009).

1.6.4 Drainage 

Asaba is situated on the valley of River Niger with its tributary streams. There are human settlements along the banks of the River as well as business activities, such as dredging and other commercial and domestic activities in the vicinity of the River (Chukwu, 2017). River Niger and its tributaries drainage system is characterized by very low velocity of flow due to its low elevation together with very high capacity discharge of sediments. This results in features such as braided channels, lagoons, canals, bars, creeks, meanders as shown in the Nigeria Surveys topographical sheet of the area map of that result from alternative flooding and exposure episodes of a long rainy season with short dry season accompanied with tidal movements. In the rainy season, high rainfall and poorly drained soil of low retention capacity results in wide spread flooding and erosion. Thus, 80% of the entire area is flooded with the rivers overflowing their banks at the peak of wet season as the coastline is buffeted throughout the year by tidal current (tides) of the Atlantic Ocean (Ejemeyovwi, 2015b; Ejemeyovwi, 2008).

1.6.5 Population

The population of the area, according to the 2006 national population census data, is approximately 241,289. The proximity of the study area to Onitsha, a major commercial city, in the neighbouring Anambra State, and the fact that Asaba has been the administrative headquarters of Oshimili South Local Government Area, promoted trade and commerce in Asaba prior to the creation of Delta State. There has been a tremendous growth in human population; it has grown from being a rural area to an urban area. In 2006 population census, it has a high population density that is concentrated in the core areas of the city. Thus, as population increases there is an increase in anthropogenic activities which in turn leads to over population, pressure on land and social facilities such as pipe born water, schools, housing, hospital, high rate of crime and so on.

1.6.6 Socio Economic Activities

The majority of rural dwellers in the area engage in farming and other agricultural activities. The creation of the State, however, has boosted the administrative and commercial status of Asaba, attracting industries and increasing trade and commerce in the area. The main town has a network of good roads, standard hotels and communication facilities. The Niger Bridge connects Asaba to Onitsha in Anambra State but separated by the River Niger. There are also high commercial activities in areas of transportation industry with Delta line and private ownership. Apart from occupations like civil service, most indigenes are traders and self-employed. A lot of wastes from industrial and domestic activities in and around the fast growing town of Asaba and highly urbanized town of Onitsha as well as surrounding villages of Okoh, Anwai and Ugbolu contribute to air pollution. The saw mill, transportation sectors, industrial generators, Mami market, Cable market and Delta textile mills Asaba are some of the known contributors to air pollution. Metal fabricators along the catchment areas are involved in the production of car rims, iron beds, cutlasses, pots, underground and surface tanks etc, in and around Asaba/Onitsha axis of the river catchments. Thus, are some of the major contributors to the air pollution.