Flood Disaster and Family Disorganization in the Niger Delta
Main Article Content
Keywords
Flood, Disaster, family, disorganization, Niger Delta
Abstract
Flood disasters are natural calamities that exert devastating impact on communities and families. These events often result in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of individuals and families. The perennial nature of this menace in many countries around the globe, including Nigeria has attracted attention from scholars and other concerned institutions. However, its propensity to disorganize the proper functioning of the family which is of the basic unit of society has not been fully examined. Thus, this work examined the relationship between flood disaster and family disorganization in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Based on the Family Stress theory, the study relied on secondary sources of data. The Study finds that flood disasters have wide-ranging effects on families, often resulting in family disorganization in the region. The loss of homes, disruption of social networks, financial strain, psychological trauma, and the disruption of education and healthcare services all contribute to this disorganization. In view of the above, support from government and community resources, counselling services, and disaster relief organizations can play a crucial role in helping families navigate the difficulties associated with flood disasters and facilitate the process of restoring stability and organization within the family unit.
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References
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Akinola, O. A., & Akinola, A. S. (2019). Family Characteristics and Youths’ Cultism in Selected Nigerian Universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 10(7), 1-9.
Akinyemi, T. (1990, July 20). Stemming the tide of Lagos floods. The Guardian, pp 7.
American Academy of Pediatrics Work Group on Disasters. (1995). Psychological Issues for Children in Disasters: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician. Washington D. C.: National Mental Health Services Exchange Network.
Bakare, A. R. (2013). The Influence of Family Structure on the Occurrence of Delinquency among Adolescents in Ogun State, Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, 9(28), 80-92.
Baiye, E. (1988, October 8). Numan in the throes of floods. The Guardian, pp 9.
Borden, L.M. (n.d). Promoting the Health and Well-Being of Families During Difficult Times: Supporting Families Following a Disaster, An Overview. Retrieved from https://calesarizona.edu/sfcs/supporting_families/pdf/fs%201supprtingfamilies_final. pdf
Burr, W. (1973) Theory Construction and the Sociology of the Family. New York: Wiley and sons.
Cerna-Turoff, I., Fischer, H.-T. , Mayhew, S. & Devries, K. (2019). Violence against children and natural disasters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative evidence. PloS one, 14 (5), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217719
Chauhan, A.D. (2016). Family Disorganization – A social Problem in Current Scenario. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (10SR-JHSS). Vol. 21, pp. 16-18.
Chukwu, I. (2022, October 24). Flooding hit Niger-Delta Businesses fear worst. BusinesDay. Retrieved from https://businessday.ng/big-read/article/flood- hit-niger- delta-businesses-fear-worst
Ebata, A. T., & Borden, L. M. (1995). Children, stress and natural disasters: A guide for teachers and school activities for children. Champaign-Urbana, IL: University of Illinois.
Edward-Adebiyi, R. (1997, May 17). The story of Ogunpa. The Guardian, pp 5.
Ekiran, M.A (2006), Social Work and Youth Development. In Olurode, Bammeke and Durowade (ed). Reading in social work, Lagos. Latmos publisher.
Enrico, L., & Quarantelli, H. (2005). Catastrophes are different from disasters: Some implications for crisis planning and managing drawn from Katrina. Retrieved from http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Quarantelli/
Fothergill, A. 1999. “An Exploratory Study of Woman Battering in the Grand Forks Flood Disaster: Implications for Community Responses and Policies.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters 17(1):79–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/028072709901700105
Fox, G. L., Michael L. B., Alfred A. D., & Wyk J.V. (2002). “Economic Distress and Intimate Violence: Testing Family Stress and Resources Theories.” Journal of Marriage and Family 64(3):793–807. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00793.x
Frankenberg, E., Jed F., Thomas G., Nicholas I., Robert P, Iip U. Rifai A., Sikoki B., Steinberg A., Sumantri C, Suriastini W., & Thomas D.. (2008). “Mental Health in Sumatra after the Tsunami.” American Journal of Public Health, 98(9):1671–77. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.120915
Gage, A. J. (2005). “Women’s Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Haiti.” Social Science and Medicine 61(2):343–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.11.078
Ghosh, R. , Dubey, M. J. , Chatterjee, S. & Dubey, S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on children: Special focus on psychosocial aspect. Education, 31, 34. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0026-4946.20.05887-9
Goode, William J. 1971. “Force and Violence in the Family.” Journal of Marriage and Family, 33(4):624–36. https://doi.org/10.2307/349435
Gordon, N. S., Farberow, N. L., & Maida, C. A. (1999). Children & disasters. Philadelphia, PA: Burnner/Mazel.
Harville, E. W., Taylor C.A., Tesfai H., Xiong X., & Buekens P. (2011). “Experience of Hurricane Katrina and Reported Intimate Partner Violence.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 26(4):833–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260510365861
Hettiarachchi S., Wasko C., & Sharma A. (2018). Increase in flood risk resulting from climate change in a developed urban watershed – the role of storm temporal patterns. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2041–2056. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2041-2018
Hill, R. (1958). Generic features of families under stress. Social Casework, 49, 139–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389458039002-318
Hill, R. & Hansen, D. (1964). “Families under stress.” Pp. 782-822 in H. Christiansen (Ed.), Handbook on Marriage and the Family. Chicago: Rand McNally.
Kalmuss, Debra S. and Murray A. Straus. 1982. “Wife’sMarital Dependency and Wife Abuse.” Journal of Marriage and Family 44(2):277–86. https://doi.org/10.2307/351538
Klinenberg, Eric. 2002. Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226026718.001.0001
Kundzewicz Z. W., Kanae S., Seneviratne S.I., Handmer J., Nicholls N., Peduzzi P., Mechler R., Bouwer L.M., Arnell N., Mach K., Muir-Wood R., Brakenridge. G.R., Kron W., Benito G., Honda Y., Takahashi K. & Sherstyukov B. (2014) Flood risk and climate change: global and regional perspectives, Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59:1, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2013.857411
Larrance, Ryan, Michael Anastario, and Lynn Lawry. 2007. “Health Status among Internally Displaced Persons in Louisiana and Mississippi Travel Trailer Parks.” Annals of Emergency Medicine 49(5):590–601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.12.004
Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team -NEST (1991) Nigeria’s Threatened Environment: A National Profile. Ibadan, Nigeria. Environmental Study/Action Team.
Nwaubani, C. (1991, October 21). Ogunpa River leaves bitter after taste in tragic course through Abeokuta. The Guardian, pp: 9.
Nwokoye, E. S., Uwajumogu, N. & Ezenekwe, U. (2014). What Implication does 2012 Flood Disaster have on the Nigerian Economy? Nigerian Journal of Energy and Environmental Economics 6(1), 15-30
Odebode, O., & Fatusi, A. (2016). Influence of Family Structure on Substance Use and Abuse among Secondary School Students in Nigeria. African Journal of Drug & Alcohol Studies, 15(2), 81-90.
Oakly A (2007), Conventional families Report. Etal London Oxford.
Okunala M I (2002), Handbook for Nigeria social workers, Ibadan. Daybis LT D.
Olanrewaju, C. C., Chitakira, M., Olanrewaju, O. A., & Louw, E. (2019). Impacts of flood disasters in Nigeria: A critical evaluation of health implications and management. Jamba (Potchefstroom, South Africa), 11(1), 557. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.557
Othman, F., Sharip, S.M., Kasim, S., Kamdari, N.M., & Baharuddin, F.N. (2022). Flooding: The Mentl, Social and Health Effects of Flood Disasters. International Journal of Academic Research in Business & Social Sciences, 12(10), 2569-2582. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i10/15492
Oyeshola. D. Q. P (2005), Conflict and Context of Conflict Resolution. Obafemi Awolowo University, Press, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND (2022), Niger Delta Weekly Update for October 09-15, 2022. Retrieved at https://pindfoundation.org/niger-delta- weekly-update-october-09-15-2022/
Powell, Tara and Lori K. Holleran Steiker. 2012. “Working with Children and Families Who Have Survived Natural Disasters: Exploring Substance Abuse and Other Risk Factors.” Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 12(2):209–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2012.672129
Randeniya, E. (2018). Flooding disaster: The effect on the adolescents at Angoda Rahula College, Sri Lanka. Procedia Engineering. 212. 723-728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2018.01.093
Seddighi, H. , Salmani, I. , Javadi, M. H. & Seddighi, S. (2019). Child abuse in natural disasters and conflicts: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 1524838019835973. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838019835973
Sajid, O., & Bevis, L. E. (2021). Flooding and child health: Evidence from Pakistan. World Development. 146 (2021) 105477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105477
Senarath, S. (2011). Relationships between Post –traumatic stress Disorder and Coping Strategies in Children’s Post Disaster Adjustment. Paper presented at the Research Symposium University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Shapiro, Deane H., Jr., Carolyn E. Schwartz, and John A. Astin. (1996). “Controlling Ourselves, Controlling Our World: Psychology’s Role in Understanding Positive and Negative Consequences of Seeking and Gaining Control.” American Psychologist 51(12):1213–30. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.51.12.1213
Solomon, A.A, Mohammed, O. & Agwadu, J. (2020). The Effects of Family Disorganizations and the Corrupt Tendency on Youths. (A case study of Migili Community of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. CEDTECH International Journal of Social Science & National Development, 1(3), 1-11
Sreekumar, U.N. (2017). Family Disorganization and Children. International Journal of Education & Applied Sciences Research. 4, 19-23.
Wokocha C. L., Mark O. & Obafemi A.A. (2023). Examining Flood Vulnerability Impact on Issues of Insecurity in the Core Niger Delta. Global scientific journal, 11(7); 184-200
World Health Organisation. (2014) Floods and health: fact sheets for health professionals. Retrieved from https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0016/252601/Floods-and-health-Fact-sheets- for-health-professionals.pdf
Yusoff, S., & Kadir, N. A. (2017). Bencana Alam dan Impak Banjir Besar 2014 Terhadap Komuniti Tempatan di Hulu Dungun, Terengganu: Satu Perspektif Sosiologi Bencana. School of Social Sciences, USM. Retrieved at http://eprints.usm.my/41159/1/ART_93.pdf
Akinnawo E O & Adetula G A (2008), Conflict in Nigeria Family System.Causative and Strategic Management Factor. Ife psychologia 16; 210-221.
Akinola, O. A., & Akinola, A. S. (2019). Family Characteristics and Youths’ Cultism in Selected Nigerian Universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 10(7), 1-9.
Akinyemi, T. (1990, July 20). Stemming the tide of Lagos floods. The Guardian, pp 7.
American Academy of Pediatrics Work Group on Disasters. (1995). Psychological Issues for Children in Disasters: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician. Washington D. C.: National Mental Health Services Exchange Network.
Bakare, A. R. (2013). The Influence of Family Structure on the Occurrence of Delinquency among Adolescents in Ogun State, Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, 9(28), 80-92.
Baiye, E. (1988, October 8). Numan in the throes of floods. The Guardian, pp 9.
Borden, L.M. (n.d). Promoting the Health and Well-Being of Families During Difficult Times: Supporting Families Following a Disaster, An Overview. Retrieved from https://calesarizona.edu/sfcs/supporting_families/pdf/fs%201supprtingfamilies_final. pdf
Burr, W. (1973) Theory Construction and the Sociology of the Family. New York: Wiley and sons.
Cerna-Turoff, I., Fischer, H.-T. , Mayhew, S. & Devries, K. (2019). Violence against children and natural disasters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative evidence. PloS one, 14 (5), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217719
Chauhan, A.D. (2016). Family Disorganization – A social Problem in Current Scenario. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (10SR-JHSS). Vol. 21, pp. 16-18.
Chukwu, I. (2022, October 24). Flooding hit Niger-Delta Businesses fear worst. BusinesDay. Retrieved from https://businessday.ng/big-read/article/flood- hit-niger- delta-businesses-fear-worst
Ebata, A. T., & Borden, L. M. (1995). Children, stress and natural disasters: A guide for teachers and school activities for children. Champaign-Urbana, IL: University of Illinois.
Edward-Adebiyi, R. (1997, May 17). The story of Ogunpa. The Guardian, pp 5.
Ekiran, M.A (2006), Social Work and Youth Development. In Olurode, Bammeke and Durowade (ed). Reading in social work, Lagos. Latmos publisher.
Enrico, L., & Quarantelli, H. (2005). Catastrophes are different from disasters: Some implications for crisis planning and managing drawn from Katrina. Retrieved from http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Quarantelli/
Fothergill, A. 1999. “An Exploratory Study of Woman Battering in the Grand Forks Flood Disaster: Implications for Community Responses and Policies.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters 17(1):79–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/028072709901700105
Fox, G. L., Michael L. B., Alfred A. D., & Wyk J.V. (2002). “Economic Distress and Intimate Violence: Testing Family Stress and Resources Theories.” Journal of Marriage and Family 64(3):793–807. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00793.x
Frankenberg, E., Jed F., Thomas G., Nicholas I., Robert P, Iip U. Rifai A., Sikoki B., Steinberg A., Sumantri C, Suriastini W., & Thomas D.. (2008). “Mental Health in Sumatra after the Tsunami.” American Journal of Public Health, 98(9):1671–77. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.120915
Gage, A. J. (2005). “Women’s Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Haiti.” Social Science and Medicine 61(2):343–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.11.078
Ghosh, R. , Dubey, M. J. , Chatterjee, S. & Dubey, S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on children: Special focus on psychosocial aspect. Education, 31, 34. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0026-4946.20.05887-9
Goode, William J. 1971. “Force and Violence in the Family.” Journal of Marriage and Family, 33(4):624–36. https://doi.org/10.2307/349435
Gordon, N. S., Farberow, N. L., & Maida, C. A. (1999). Children & disasters. Philadelphia, PA: Burnner/Mazel.
Harville, E. W., Taylor C.A., Tesfai H., Xiong X., & Buekens P. (2011). “Experience of Hurricane Katrina and Reported Intimate Partner Violence.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 26(4):833–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260510365861
Hettiarachchi S., Wasko C., & Sharma A. (2018). Increase in flood risk resulting from climate change in a developed urban watershed – the role of storm temporal patterns. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2041–2056. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2041-2018
Hill, R. (1958). Generic features of families under stress. Social Casework, 49, 139–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389458039002-318
Hill, R. & Hansen, D. (1964). “Families under stress.” Pp. 782-822 in H. Christiansen (Ed.), Handbook on Marriage and the Family. Chicago: Rand McNally.
Kalmuss, Debra S. and Murray A. Straus. 1982. “Wife’sMarital Dependency and Wife Abuse.” Journal of Marriage and Family 44(2):277–86. https://doi.org/10.2307/351538
Klinenberg, Eric. 2002. Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226026718.001.0001
Kundzewicz Z. W., Kanae S., Seneviratne S.I., Handmer J., Nicholls N., Peduzzi P., Mechler R., Bouwer L.M., Arnell N., Mach K., Muir-Wood R., Brakenridge. G.R., Kron W., Benito G., Honda Y., Takahashi K. & Sherstyukov B. (2014) Flood risk and climate change: global and regional perspectives, Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59:1, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2013.857411
Larrance, Ryan, Michael Anastario, and Lynn Lawry. 2007. “Health Status among Internally Displaced Persons in Louisiana and Mississippi Travel Trailer Parks.” Annals of Emergency Medicine 49(5):590–601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.12.004
Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team -NEST (1991) Nigeria’s Threatened Environment: A National Profile. Ibadan, Nigeria. Environmental Study/Action Team.
Nwaubani, C. (1991, October 21). Ogunpa River leaves bitter after taste in tragic course through Abeokuta. The Guardian, pp: 9.
Nwokoye, E. S., Uwajumogu, N. & Ezenekwe, U. (2014). What Implication does 2012 Flood Disaster have on the Nigerian Economy? Nigerian Journal of Energy and Environmental Economics 6(1), 15-30
Odebode, O., & Fatusi, A. (2016). Influence of Family Structure on Substance Use and Abuse among Secondary School Students in Nigeria. African Journal of Drug & Alcohol Studies, 15(2), 81-90.
Oakly A (2007), Conventional families Report. Etal London Oxford.
Okunala M I (2002), Handbook for Nigeria social workers, Ibadan. Daybis LT D.
Olanrewaju, C. C., Chitakira, M., Olanrewaju, O. A., & Louw, E. (2019). Impacts of flood disasters in Nigeria: A critical evaluation of health implications and management. Jamba (Potchefstroom, South Africa), 11(1), 557. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.557
Othman, F., Sharip, S.M., Kasim, S., Kamdari, N.M., & Baharuddin, F.N. (2022). Flooding: The Mentl, Social and Health Effects of Flood Disasters. International Journal of Academic Research in Business & Social Sciences, 12(10), 2569-2582. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i10/15492
Oyeshola. D. Q. P (2005), Conflict and Context of Conflict Resolution. Obafemi Awolowo University, Press, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND (2022), Niger Delta Weekly Update for October 09-15, 2022. Retrieved at https://pindfoundation.org/niger-delta- weekly-update-october-09-15-2022/
Powell, Tara and Lori K. Holleran Steiker. 2012. “Working with Children and Families Who Have Survived Natural Disasters: Exploring Substance Abuse and Other Risk Factors.” Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 12(2):209–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2012.672129
Randeniya, E. (2018). Flooding disaster: The effect on the adolescents at Angoda Rahula College, Sri Lanka. Procedia Engineering. 212. 723-728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2018.01.093
Seddighi, H. , Salmani, I. , Javadi, M. H. & Seddighi, S. (2019). Child abuse in natural disasters and conflicts: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 1524838019835973. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838019835973
Sajid, O., & Bevis, L. E. (2021). Flooding and child health: Evidence from Pakistan. World Development. 146 (2021) 105477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105477
Senarath, S. (2011). Relationships between Post –traumatic stress Disorder and Coping Strategies in Children’s Post Disaster Adjustment. Paper presented at the Research Symposium University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Shapiro, Deane H., Jr., Carolyn E. Schwartz, and John A. Astin. (1996). “Controlling Ourselves, Controlling Our World: Psychology’s Role in Understanding Positive and Negative Consequences of Seeking and Gaining Control.” American Psychologist 51(12):1213–30. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.51.12.1213
Solomon, A.A, Mohammed, O. & Agwadu, J. (2020). The Effects of Family Disorganizations and the Corrupt Tendency on Youths. (A case study of Migili Community of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. CEDTECH International Journal of Social Science & National Development, 1(3), 1-11
Sreekumar, U.N. (2017). Family Disorganization and Children. International Journal of Education & Applied Sciences Research. 4, 19-23.
Wokocha C. L., Mark O. & Obafemi A.A. (2023). Examining Flood Vulnerability Impact on Issues of Insecurity in the Core Niger Delta. Global scientific journal, 11(7); 184-200
World Health Organisation. (2014) Floods and health: fact sheets for health professionals. Retrieved from https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0016/252601/Floods-and-health-Fact-sheets- for-health-professionals.pdf
Yusoff, S., & Kadir, N. A. (2017). Bencana Alam dan Impak Banjir Besar 2014 Terhadap Komuniti Tempatan di Hulu Dungun, Terengganu: Satu Perspektif Sosiologi Bencana. School of Social Sciences, USM. Retrieved at http://eprints.usm.my/41159/1/ART_93.pdf
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Flood Disaster and Family Disorganization in the Niger Delta. (2025). Ubuntu: Journal of Conflict and Social Transformation , 10(1&2), 85-97. https://doi.org/10.36615/cj7m0379
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Flood Disaster and Family Disorganization in the Niger Delta. (2025). Ubuntu: Journal of Conflict and Social Transformation , 10(1&2), 85-97. https://doi.org/10.36615/cj7m0379