Influence of Flood Risk Awareness Information on the Adaptive Behaviour of Residents in Flood Prone Areas in Southeast Nigeria

Gideon Uchechukwu Nwafor PhD
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Gideon Uchechukwu Nwafor PhD: Department of Mass Communication, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, Anambra State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2021, vol. 5, issue 11, 312-324

Abstract: Within the past decade, flood disaster had had a devastating effect on Nigerian communities destroying lives and property and displacing thousands of people. The aftermath of every flood disaster left marks to show that Nigeria has not put adequate mechanism in place to prevent and manage flood disaster occurrences especially in the flood prone areas. One major approach that can enhance proper mitigation of flood disasters is risk and behavioural change communication. This study, therefore, evaluated the influence of flood risk awareness information on the adaptive behavior of people living in flood prone areas in southeastern Nigeria. The main objective of the study was to ascertain if there is availability of flood risk awareness information, major source of information, influence of accessibility on diffusion, relationship between awareness, adoption, and adaptive behavior. Anchored on Reasoned Action Approach, Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action and Media Synchronicity Theory, the researcher adopted the survey design in carrying out the study with a projected population of 21,298,033 and a sample size of 384 drawn using Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table. Findings revealed that there is availability of flood risk awareness information which majority access mainly through radio/TV in form of early warning but limited or uneasy access to sources of flood risk awareness information hampers its diffusion which results to low adoption and affect their adaptive behavior. The researcher, therefore, recommended that community-based communication process using communication forms such as interpersonal, seminar; town hall meeting should be maximally utilized in creating disaster awareness and to complement effort of the TV and radio stations being used presently.

Date: 2021
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