Work

Women's knowledge and perception of flood disasters in Butaleja District, Uganda

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Globally, flood disasters have increased, adversely affecting women. The study assessed women’s knowledge and perception of flood disasters in Butaleja district, Eastern Uganda. Assessing women’s knowledge and perception of flood disasters guides the design and implementation of risk-reduction initiatives and practices. The study further revealed knowledge gaps concerning flood disasters, forming a basis for flood disaster preparedness and capacity mechanisms. We adopted a mixed methods approach employing qualitative and quantitative. Primary data were collected from 300 households, 16 focus group discussions and 9 key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed with the help of R-software to generate descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas we analysed qualitative data using Atlas ti 23, following thematic analysis. Results from the two studies revealed that most women were aware of flood disasters in their communities, and they attributed this to heavy rainfall, poor farming methods, and encroachment on wetlands and riverbanks. Most women reported that floods were becoming more severe, and the likelihood of a flood disaster occurring in their community was high. Women’s awareness of flood disasters is associated with their level of education, age, marital status, and years spent in the area. The study concludes that women are knowledgeable about flood disasters.

Source: Progress in Disaster Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100399

Authors: Alice Nakiyemba, Kinobe Zakaria, Kakungulu Mosses, Nyangoma Immeldah, Masaba Sowedi

Institution: Busitema University

Language: English

Topic: Flood Risk Assessment and Management

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Clean water and sanitation, Reduced inequalities, No poverty

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,710