Climate Change and Widening Endemicity of Diseases in Tropical Africa: The Ecological Stance of Households’ Activities in Nsukka Urban

Abstract

Climate change comes with numerous public health issues and prepares ground for emerging, re-emerging and expansion of diseases endemicity. If climate change continues in this trend, these health issues will be particularly worse in tropical Africa. Carbon(IV)oxide (CO₂) emissions from human activities including household level emissions have been implicated as the drivers of global climate change. Therefore, until households minimize or withdraw from activities that generate greenhouse gases and lead pro-ecological lives, Africa will be left awash with diseases in the nearest future. This study determined the ecological stance of household activities in Nsukka Urban of Enugu State in the context of climate change and widening endemicity of diseases in Africa. Descriptive research design was used for the study. The sample comprised of 470 households which was systematically sampled from 23,501 households in Nsukka Urban. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Frequencies, percentages, mean and ANOVA were used for data analysis. Result showed that the household energy consumption activities (X =3.0) and waste disposal methods (X = 3.6) were above the criterion mean of 2.50. This indicated that those activities were both anti-ecological. There was a significant difference in the households’ ecological stance based on level of income. The study recommended the development of a programme for enhancing pro-ecological behaviours among the household or any group.