TY - JOUR
T1 - Sociodemographic and geophysical determinants of household vulnerability to coastal hazards in the Volta Delta, Ghana
AU - Atiglo, D. Yaw
AU - Abu, Mumuni
AU - Jayson-Quashigah, Philip Neri
AU - Addo, Kwasi Appeaning
AU - Ardey Codjoe, Samuel Nii
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - Theoretical emphasis on combining geophysical and socioeconomic characteristics in assessing vulnerability is growing but with little empirical support. Similarly, there is increasing consideration of cumulative vulnerability to multiple stressors, yet empirical studies are scant. This study seeks to assess the geophysical and socioeconomic determinants of households’ vulnerability to the cumulative impacts of three coastal hazards – flooding, erosion and salinity – using evidence from the Volta Delta in Ghana. The study employed multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression functions to assess cumulative vulnerability and exposure to individual hazards, respectively. Results indicate that while exposure to hazards is determined largely by geophysical factors, the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households determine the extent of vulnerability to their impacts. In addition, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households, particularly higher wealth levels, non-agricultural occupation, and improved drinking water source, are associated with lower levels of vulnerability to the cumulative impacts of coastal hazards. In developing contexts, resilience to coastal hazards requires improved access to social amenities as well as alternative livelihood options.
AB - Theoretical emphasis on combining geophysical and socioeconomic characteristics in assessing vulnerability is growing but with little empirical support. Similarly, there is increasing consideration of cumulative vulnerability to multiple stressors, yet empirical studies are scant. This study seeks to assess the geophysical and socioeconomic determinants of households’ vulnerability to the cumulative impacts of three coastal hazards – flooding, erosion and salinity – using evidence from the Volta Delta in Ghana. The study employed multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression functions to assess cumulative vulnerability and exposure to individual hazards, respectively. Results indicate that while exposure to hazards is determined largely by geophysical factors, the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households determine the extent of vulnerability to their impacts. In addition, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households, particularly higher wealth levels, non-agricultural occupation, and improved drinking water source, are associated with lower levels of vulnerability to the cumulative impacts of coastal hazards. In developing contexts, resilience to coastal hazards requires improved access to social amenities as well as alternative livelihood options.
KW - Coastal hazards
KW - Cumulative vulnerability
KW - Determinants
KW - Geophysical
KW - Sociodemographic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139560613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103146
DO - 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103146
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85139560613
SN - 2212-4209
VL - 78
JO - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
JF - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
M1 - 103146
ER -