Temperature and its variations in birth rates and sex ratio in Greater Yola, Nigeria

Abstract

The relationship between birth rates, sex ratio and temperature in Yola has been investigated. Data on temperature and births, for 12 years (1990-2001), were collected from Federal Meteorological Department, Yola and Federal medical Centre, Yola respectively. Average mean monthly births and temperature data for the period of study were analyzed and subjected to statistical test. Also, mean monthly data, nine months before the births of the children whose birth records were used for this study, were computed for three years. The Mean monthly birth records and their corresponding temperature values, for the 3 years, were subjected to correlation statistical test to find out the relationship between them. The results have shown that there is negative relationship between birth rates and temperature. That is, rates of conceptions among women generally, increase during relatively low temperature periods and vice versa. While female birth rates are negatively related with temperature, the reverse is the case with male births. This implies that the ratio of female birth decreases with increasing temperature whereas male births increase when temperature is higher. The paper finally emphasizes the need to minimize the effects of high temperature in our living environments by way of ensuring adequate circulation of air.



KEYWORDS: Temperature, Birth rate, Sex ratio, Conception, Population

[Global Jnl Environ Sci Vol.2(2) 2003: 78-81]