ASSESSMENT ON THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ON HUMAN HEALTH IN DIOBU, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.

The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge of environmental changes and its impacts on human health. The specific objectives are to determine the level of knowledge, causes, impact and ways of improving the health risks of environmental change in Diobu, Port Harcourt. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The researcher made use of the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. Data generated tables from the 134 participants was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that 70.1% of the respondents understood the meaning of environmental changes. Their perceived causes of environmental changes include natural processes which had 37.9% of females while males 10.0%, deforestation, act of the gods, burning of fossil fuel, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from vehicles and industries. The majority of the respondents (64.9%) indicated that environmental changes has an impact on human health, while 26.9% indicated that it does not. Majority (78.3%) of the respondents are willing to support efforts to reduce the intensity of environmental changes. Television (15.7%) and social media (17.2%) were the leading preferred methods for receipt of environmental changes information. These findings provide useful insights for policy directions. The Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders in health should develop a communication strategy to increase and sustain publicity and education of the citizenry on environmental changes.