ANALYZING THE EFFECTS OF FLOODING ON HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY IN LAGOS STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The prevalence of flooding in Nigeria is unparalleled among other types of disasters. Nigeria's states are experiencing escalating annual flooding throughout the rainy seasons due to heightened precipitation associated with climate change (Aja and Olaore 2024). The flooding in Nigeria is primarily caused by human activities, particularly due to the prevailing practices of bad urban planning and the lack of sufficient environmental infrastructure, which further worsen the problem. Lagos State is one of the fastest-growing urban centers in Africa, characterized by rapid population growth and unplanned urban development. The expansion of informal settlements and inadequate drainage systems exacerbates the city's vulnerability to flooding during the annual rainy seasons. Floodwaters overwhelms the existing infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and drainage networks, leading to widespread inundation of residential areas and public facilities, including healthcare facilities (Adesina et al., 2023).

Moreover, flooding in Lagos is exacerbated by insufficient drainage infrastructure. For instance, communities in Lagos state, known as a 'ghetto' with longstanding issues of overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare facilities common in many sub-Saharan countries, flooding poses significant challenges. These floods are associated with waterborne diseases (CIA World Factbook, 2013). Situated on low-lying land surrounded by rivers, creeks, and a lagoon, Lagos state coastal location makes it highly susceptible to flooding during heavy rainfall, exacerbated by water releases from the Oyan Dam and overflow from the Ogun River. These floods, lasting for days at times, severely impact public health. Additionally,  a popular community called Ajegunle, located in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA), faces high population density, projected to be the highest in Lagos State (LG-Stat, 2022). With a density of 7,941 people per square kilometer, Ajegunle's proximity to major ports makes it a bustling commercial center. However, this dense population in a flood-prone area heightens the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks. Poor infrastructure development has further compromised access to clean water and sanitation, exacerbating public health challenges. Despite its geographical advantage, the community suffers from water shortages and inadequate sewage systems, leading to improper disposal of human waste through open ditches, exacerbated during rainy seasons. 

Apparently, flooding not only disrupts daily life and economic activities but also has profound implications for health service delivery.Hospitals and clinics situated in flood-prone regions face the threat of infrastructure and medical equipment damage. During floods, transportation routes often become impassable, disrupting access to healthcare services and making it difficult for patients to reach medical facilities promptly during emergencies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Flooding, however, presents substantial obstacles to healthcare institutions in Lagos State. Hospitals and clinics situated in flood-prone regions face the potential danger of harm to their infrastructure and medical apparatus. As roads and transport networks become inaccessible, patients' ability to reach healthcare institutions in emergencies is hindered, compromising access to healthcare services. In addition, flooding-induced power outages have the potential to interrupt critical medical services, including surgical procedures, diagnostic examinations, and patient care, hence placing additional stress on healthcare provision (Ibe et al., 2023).

Bizarrely, healthcare workers face difficulties while dealing with flooding incidents. Healthcare personnel's safety is jeopardized as they traverse inundated streets and impaired infrastructure to access hospitals and clinics. Their capacity to deliver care efficiently is further compromised by the restricted availability of protective equipment and resources during emergencies. Furthermore, extended exposure to stressful circumstances and heightened workload during disaster response might impact the morale and well-being of healthcare professionals, potentially resulting in burnout and diminished ability to manage patient care (Oluwole et al., 2023). This issue has escalated to a critical level, prompting Adelekan (2020) to recommend several measures to the government. These include enforcing urban planning regulations, improving waste management practices, and constructing additional drainage systems. Hence, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to analyze the effects of flooding on health service delivery in Lagos state.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of flooding on health service delivery in Lagos state. Specifically, the study will;

Determine the adequacy of health care facilities in Lagos state.

Determine the extent of flooding impact the accessibility of healthcare facilities in Lagos State.

Examine the correlation between flooding events and the quality of health services provided to the affected population.

Analyze the psychological impact of flooding on healthcare workers and patients in Lagos State.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

Are healthcare facilities in Lagos state adequate?

To what extent does flooding affect the accessibility of healthcare facilities in Lagos State?

Is there a correlation between flooding events and the quality of health services provided to the affected population?

What is the psychological impact of flooding on healthcare workers and patients in Lagos State?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: Flooding has no significant effects on health service delivery in Lagos State.

Ha: Flooding has significant effects on health service delivery in Lagos State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings will provide healthcare providers with valuable insights to strengthen the resilience of health institutions against flooding. This may be achieved through measures such as retrofitting infrastructure, creating contingency plans for uninterrupted service, and enhancing disaster response protocols.Furthermore, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. 

1.6 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on analyze the effects of flooding on health service delivery in Lagos state. Geographically, the study will be delimited to residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government area of Lagos state

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Flood: the overflow of water onto normally dry land due to heavy rainfall, poor drainage systems, or other contributing factors.

Health: a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Health service delivery: refers to the process of providing healthcare services to individuals and communities to promote, maintain, and restore health.

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