Farmers Adaptive Capacities to Poverty-Related Diseases in Riverine Communities in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Many of the diseases contributing to the disease burden in low-income countries are tightly linked to the debilitating conditions of poverty. At the global level, there are three primary poverty-related diseases (PRDs): acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, malaria, and tuberculosis. This study determining the farmers adaptive capacities to PRDs in Riverine communities in Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from respondents; a multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents in Kogi State. Descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression method were used to achieve objectives in the study areas. The findings reveal that the use of mosquito nets was common adaptation measure to reduce PRDs. It also shows that off-farm business and gender were positive and statistically significant at 5% and 10% level affects malaria, respectively. It was concluded that education, farming experience, off-farm income, access to credit, and sanitation of environment were the determinants of the adaptative capacities to PRDs by respondent in the study area. The study recommends that to reduce the effect of PRDs, there is need for policy makers to engage communities when taking decisions relating to their health.