Water-Related Problems and Health Conditions in the Oil Producing Communities in Central Senatorial District of Bayelsa State.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the water-related problems and health conditions in the oil producing communities in Central Senatorial District in Bayelsa State. Nine objectives with corresponding research questions and hypotheses were raised to guide the study. Literature pertinent to the study was extensively reviewed. The ex-post facto survey design was employed with a sample size of 2,060 subjects representing five per cent of the population of 41,200 inhabitants. The sample size consisted of 705 traders, 555 farmers and 800 civil servants. The sample was selected for the study using a multi-stage random sampling technique. The Descriptive Statistics was used to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested using the Chi-square statistics; set at .05 probability alpha level of significance. Findings of this study were that the health conditions of the inhabitants in the oil producing communities in Central Senatorial District of Bayelsa State were invariably unfavorable to the residents. It was concluded that Cholera and Yellow fever do not often affect the health conditions of the three groups. Traders are very often affected by the other diseases namely Dysentery, Malaria and Typhoid; often by Guinea Worm, Dengue Fever and Hepatitis A; but not often by Dermatitis disease. Farmers are affected by all the other diseases, namely Dysentery, Typhoid, Dermatitis, Malaria, and Hepatitis A, and often by Guinea Worm but less often by Dengue Fever. The Civil Servants are very often affected by Typhoid, Malaria and Hepatitis A, and less often by Dengue Fever but not often by Guinea Worm disease. From the conclusions reached the study recommended that inhabitants should go for medical test as they are carrying the signs and symptoms of some diseases unknowingly about and Government should provide medical facilities and improve their vital utilities like qualitative water supply.

Keywords: water supply, water-related problems, health conditions, oil producing communities