Sociodemographic and geophysical determinants of household vulnerability to coastal hazards in the Volta Delta, Ghana

Abstract

Theoretical emphasis on combining geophysical and socioeconomic characteristics in assessing vulnerability is growing but with little empirical support. Similarly, there is increasing consideration of cumulative vulnerability to multiple stressors, yet empirical studies are scant. This study seeks to assess the geophysical and socioeconomic determinants of households’ vulnerability to the cumulative impacts of three coastal hazards – flooding, erosion and salinity – using evidence from the Volta Delta in Ghana. The study employed multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression functions to assess cumulative vulnerability and exposure to individual hazards, respectively. Results indicate that while exposure to hazards is determined largely by geophysical factors, the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households determine the extent of vulnerability to their impacts. In addition, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households, particularly higher wealth levels, non-agricultural occupation, and improved drinking water source, are associated with lower levels of vulnerability to the cumulative impacts of coastal hazards. In developing contexts, resilience to coastal hazards requires improved access to social amenities as well as alternative livelihood options.