Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, H: Environment & Earth Science, Volume 21 Issue 6

Source: NAGIS, 2020 Fig. 1: Map of Keffi Local Government (Study area) b) Methods of Data Collection The research used secondary type of data. The method was used to source data from mega and reputable institutions, e.g., Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Keffi, PHC Unit, Keffi Local Government Council, Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET). The method was adopted as a major tool to source the required documented data for the research. In addition, the secondary data was also generated from the review of enormous relevant literatures in journals, textbooks, web pages and many other relevant published and unpublished materials as well. Where malaria data was retrieved or obtained from the health care unit (department) at the Keffi Local Government Council. As asthmatic data was retrieved from FMC and the climatic variables (data) was retrieved from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) FCT, Abuja. This method was adopted and used in order to obtain or retrieve full data on climatic variables and malaria/asthmatic documented record. Hence, this may not be effectively and efficiently gathered or generated from the population via oral confrontation (interview). c) Techniques of Data Analysis Cooper and Schindler (2014), defined data preparation or analysis as the processes that ensure the accuracy of data and their conversion from raw form into classified forms appropriate for analysis. The analysis and interpretation of data used in this study was based on the research questions and objectives of the study. As earlier pointed out, the study elicits both quantitative and qualitative data. Hence, these data were processed and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. In analysing the quantitative data used in the study, the researcher employed the use of Microsoft Excel, IBM SPSS Statistical package version 26, and E-Views 10, to organize the data collected into manageable information that was understood. These data were edited by inspecting the data pieces. The data were then coded to facilitate data entry into the computer to allow for statistical analysis. The analytical methods used in analysing the data was the univariate and bivariate methods. The univariate method of analysis used was the descriptive statistics. Explicitly, the descriptive statistics that was used, was the time series trend analysis. The bivariant method of analysis that was adopted was correlation and regression analysis. III. R esults and D iscussion a) Climatic Variables Trends i. Maximum Temperature Figure 1 depict the trend of mean maximum temperature in the study area between 2003 and 2018. From the trend chart, it can be observed that the study area over the course of 16 years (2003-2018) has been experiencing a decreasing trend in average (mean) maximum temperature. From the cyclical nature of the trend plot, it can be observed that the year 2008 recorded the highest mean maximum temperature in the study area at 37.7 o C, while the lowest mean maximum temperature was recorded in the year 2007 and 2013. Relationship between Climatic Variables and Incidence of Malaria and Asthma in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria 1 Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXI Issue VI Year 2021 55 ( H ) © 2021 Global Journals Version I