Gender-Differentiated Household Vulnerability to Environmental Stressors in the Volta Delta, Ghana

Donatus Yaw Atiglo, Regional Institute for Population Studies
Samuel Codjoe, University of Ghana

This study investigated the relationship between household gender composition and vulnerability to economic and environmental impacts of flooding and drought. The study utilised data on 1364 households from the 2016 DECCMA Survey in the Volta Delta of Ghana. There are two dimensions of vulnerability (economic and environmental) each to flooding and drought. Gender is typified by sex of household head and household adult sex composition. Binary logistic regression models revealed little differentiation of vulnerability by household gender compositions when other sociodemographic and location characteristics are controlled for. Male-headed households with female adults were more likely to be vulnerable to economic impacts of flooding and droughts than male-adult only and female-adult only households. Household location and socioeconomic characteristics were also differently associated with economic and environmental dimensions of vulnerability to different hazards. Findings oppose the blanket feminisation of vulnerability. We recommend that future research consider perspectives of gendered household compositions.