Water and food insecurity & quality of life for deaf Nigerians: A community-based cross sectional study

• Deaf and disabled people worldwide face inequitable access to clean water and food. • Access to clean water for deaf Nigerians is associated with quality of life with respect to physical health. • Higher scores in physical health and environmental quality of life are associated with decreased odds of food insecurity. • Deaf Nigerians face geopolitical and social hurdles and educational disadvantages compared to hearing Nigerians, which may hinder access to clean water and food. Drought and flooding caused by climate change as well as regional and global conflicts mean that access to both water and food is becoming increasingly precarious worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Deaf and disabled people worldwide have historically struggled to access basic needs, including access to nutritious food, sanitation and clean, potable water. Access to clean water and food is a daily challenge for many Nigerians, particularly in the northern regions. Our first-of-its kind exploratory study of 150 deaf Nigerians reports findings from a cross-sectional survey involving deaf Nigerians about their access to these essential resources. Our study, led by a joint team of deaf American and deaf Nigerian scholars, sheds light on deaf Nigerians’ diverse experiences accessing food, sanitation and potable water. We applied two logistic regression models to our data with having enough food and access to clean water as separate outcomes. Findings indicate that quality of life with respect to physical health is associated both with having access to clean water and having enough to eat. We discuss these findings in the context of geopolitical and social hurdles that deaf Nigerians face, including a lack of educational and employment advantages.