Flood Hazard Vulnerability and Resilience Strategies among Women in Odukpani’s Coastal Communities, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

 This study examined women’s vulnerability to flood hazards and their resilience strategies in Odukpani’s coastal communities, Cross River State, Nigeria. It aimed to assess the extent of vulnerability, identify adopted coping strategies, and determine socio-economic factors influencing resilience. The hypothesis tested was that women’s socio-economic characteristics significantly affect their resilience to flooding. Using a descriptive survey design, 384 women were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression in SPSS. Findings revealed that women in Odukpani experience high flood vulnerability, with 41.9 percent reporting that flooding occurs very often and 25.8 percent stating it happens frequently. Housing was the most affected sector (36.2 percent), followed by farming and fishing (28.9 percent). In response, 30.5 percent of women temporarily relocated to safer areas, while 27.9 percent stored food and water. Only 2.5 percent relied on government or NGO aid, indicating weak institutional support. Regression results showed that socio-economic characteristics significantly influenced resilience, explaining 92.8 percent of its variance (R² = 0.928, F = 1637.0, p < 0.001). Household income (B = 0.520, p < 0.001) and social support networks (B = 0.330, p < 0.001) had strong positive effects, while education (B = 0.024, p = 0.410) was positive but not significant. The study concluded that financial and institutional constraints heighten vulnerability. It recommended economic empowerment, better infrastructure, effective early warning systems, and stronger institutional support, while urging future studies to explore how cultural and gender dynamics shape long-term adaptation.