Assessing the Flood Vulnerabilities of Women in the Coastal Communities of Accra; A Case Study Of Gbegbeyise (Dansoman)

Abstract

Flooding in coastal communities is a regular phenomenon and it has numerous devastating effects on the environment and subsequently affect humans. These impacts include loss of life, an increase of diseases, loss and destruction of property, and damage to agricultural crops, all of which result in poverty and an increase in vulnerability particularly women and children. Investigation were therefore conducted to assess flood vulnerabilities of Women in Gbegbeyise, a coastal community in Accra. The objective was to determine how coastal flooding affects women, how they cope with the effects of coastal flooding and the support schemes that exist for women. The study adopted a mixed method data collection approach using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total number of 120 women in households were sampled using systematic sampling technique. The results of the study showed that erosion was ranked foremost (78.3%) as this was followed by salt water intrusion into ground water (71.7%), and food shortage (67.5%). Other problems of flood cited by respondents included bad roads, environmental pollution/dirty environment, infestation by mosquitoes, neighborhood insecurity, poor electricity supplies, unemployment and prevalence of disease. The study found out that demographic variables such as age, marital status, and employment significantly influenced the perception of respondents with effects of flood such as water access, food security, sanitation and infrastructure (P≤0.05). Cleaning of chocked gutters and drains, communal cleaning of surroundings after flood events (75.5%) were used as the main coping strategy for poor sanitation after floods. Filling roads with sand using sandbags, constructing passage for easy flow of water, raise floor levels with sand/sawdust (65.8%) were also used as coping strategies to control erosion by respondents. The results showed that most respondents receive support in a form of material support (65%), food supply (35%), cash donations (34.2%), provision of shelter (17.5%) and information giving (30.8%). This support services comes from sources such as NGO’s (82.2%), family members and friends (74.2%), individuals (24.5%) and government (15%). The study therefore recommends the district assembly and other relevant disaster risk management organizations to develop preventive measures to help address the flood challenges before major rains.