Effects of Weather and Climatic Elements on the Incidence of Pneumonia in Kaduna South Local Government Area, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between weather and climatic elements on the incidence of pneumonia in Kaduna South Local Government Area, North Western Nigeria. The main objective of the study was to determine the incidences of pneumonia and assess its relationship with weather elements. This paper also reported on the seasonality of Weather parameters and how they can affect pneumonia occurrence in the study area. The data used were meteorological (Rainfall, Humidity and Temperature) and pneumonia records collected from Nigerian Meteorological Agency and Government General Hospital, Kakuri respectively. Multiple regression model and seasonality metrices were employed in the analysis of the data to determine the strength of relationship between the weather parameters and the frequency of pneumonia outbreak. The model run indicated that the combined effect of temperature, rainfall and humidity significantly accounts for variations in Pneumonia occurrence at different level of probability. However the weather elements could only explain 16% of the variations in the incidence of Pneumonia in the study area for the period between 2008 and 2015. The examination of the seasonal occurrence revealed that pneumonia occurred mostly in the cold & wet season and the cold & dry seasons. The study concluded that weather elements play a role in the incidence of pneumonia in the study area and should be considered along with other factors in mitigating its occurrence.