Socio-Economic Determinants of Household Vulnerability to Flood Hazards in Uyo Metropolis

Abstract

Flooding remains a critical environmental issue, significantly affecting man and its environment globally, which Uyo Metropolis is not left out of. This study investigates the socio-economic factors contributing to household vulnerability to flood hazards in Uyo. Employing a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 400 respondents, focusing on key socio-economic indicators like income, education, household size, and housing tenure. A multiple regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between socioeconomic status and flood vulnerability, accounting for 84.3% of the variance. The findings revealed that household income, educational level, and property ownership significantly influenced household vulnerability to flooding with the level of association the analysis of variance (ANOVA) result showed that (2.677,  = 0.397) and the regression coefficient result showed positive association between socioeconomic status and household vulnerability to flood in Uyo (t = -0.885; < 0.223). Households with lower income and larger family sizes were more susceptible to flood risks. The study concludes that enhancing socio-economic conditions is essential for reducing flood-related risks and recommending targeted interventions to improve resilience in vulnerable communities. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on flood risk management and resilience building, with practical implications for disaster risk reduction strategies in Uyo.