APPRAISAL OF THE FACTORS OF RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

 This study highlighted the pattern, and examined the factors of rural-urban migration in Southeastern Nigeria. The primary data for this study was generated through questionnaire surveys and key informant interviews. A total of 225 rural-urban migrants were administered with the questionnaire across the five states, five urban areas and fifteen rural Local Government Areas covered by this study. The data generated from the fieldwork were analyzed with descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and principal component analysis. Results of the study show that over 70percent of the migrants are males while over 80percent of them are also single or married. The analysis of variance shows that while some factors vary significantly across the study area in determining rural-urban migration, others do not. The principal component analysis reduced the factors to thirteen underlying components that together account for 68.95percent of the cumulative variance in the determinants of migration. These underlying components include migrating to look for job, to join spouse, and to further education. Based on the results of the study, recommendations such as the establishment of skills acquisition centers and provision of social infrastructures in the rural areas are made. KEYWORDS: Appraisal; Factors; Migration; Rural-urban; Southeastern Nigeria

Mapping incidents of infant mortality arising from gastroenteritis: a case study from South-East Nigeria

Background: The upsurge of deaths from gastroenteritis in South-East Nigeria within the last decade has become an issue of concern. Using Anambra State as a case study, this paper examined the trend of reported cases of gastroenteritis and associated fatalities among children with a view to mapping the spatial pattern and underlying causes.Data source and methods: Water samples collected from the available domestic sources in each of the selected 21 study localities were analyzed for aerobic heterotrophic count, total coliform, faecal coliform and enterococci, and regressed with gastroenteritis data sourced from the State epidemiological surveillance unit.Results: The results showed that the near-epidemic 58,269 incidents of gastroenteritis recorded in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria between 2004 and 2008 had a spatial pattern and occurred in clusters with the highest number of 287 deaths occurring in Idemili North/South constituency. The study further showed that the consumption of contaminated water was responsible for the spread of the diseaseConclusion: Hand washing practices, food hygiene, proper waste management, and the provision of basic infrastructure for improved health outcomes among the population are suggested inorder to curb the spread of gastroenteritis