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

f) Relationship between Climatic Variables and Incidence of Malaria/Asthma The relation between climatic variables and incidence of malaria/asthma in the study area was examined through the Pearson Product Moment Correlation and a one-tail test employed. g) Relationship between Maximum Temperature and Malaria The result extract presented in Table 1 depicts the relationship between mean maximum temperature and reported cases of malaria in the study area. For the result extract, the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient was arrived at 0.500 . The value of the correlation coefficient by interpretation implies that there is a moderate positive relationship between mean maximum temperature and reported cases of malaria in the study area. More so, this moderate positive relationship was statistically significant, as indicated by the p -value (significant value) 0.024 < 0.05. This positive significant relation conforms with the study of Minoo et al. (2019). Table 1: Correlation between Max. Temperature and Reported Cases of Malaria Variables Mean Max. Temperature Reported Cases of Malaria Mean Max. Temperature (T o C) Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N 1 16 0.500 * 0.024 16 Reported Cases of Malaria Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N 0.500 * 0.024 16 1 16 *. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (1-tailed). Source: Author’s computation, 2021. This result shows that maximum temperature affect malaria. Though, study showed that, high temperature disturb mosquitoes life cycle. The inconsistency can be related to mosquito habits and their adaptations to the region’s climate (Nkurunziza et’ al , 2011). h) Relationship between Minimum Temperature and Malaria Table 2 depicts the relationship between mean minimum temperature and reported cases of malaria in the study area. For the result extract, the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient was arrived at - 0.295 . The value of the correlation coefficient by interpretation implies that there is a weak negative relationship between mean minimum temperature and reported cases of malaria in the study area. More so, this weak negative relationship was not statistically significant, as indicated by the p -value (significant value) 0.134 > 0.05. Unlike the study of Minoo et al. (2019) which established a positive significant relationship between mean minimum temperature and malaria, the current study was of an opposite result. Table 2: Correlation between Minimum Temperature and Reported Cases of Malaria Variables Mean Minimum Temperature Reported Cases of Malaria Mean Minimum Temperature (T o C) Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N 1 16 -0.295 0.134 16 Reported Cases of Malaria Pearson Correlation Sig. (1-tailed) N -0.295 0.134 16 1 16 Source: Author’s computation, 2021. The relation between minimum temperature and incidence of malaria may be due to low temperature at night. Though, some studies reveal that, minimum temperature has been known as an effective factor in the incidence of malaria. These differences may be further attributed to mosquitoes response to habitats and climatic condition of a certain location. i) Relationship between Relative Humidity and Malaria The result extract presented in Table 4.3 depicts the relationship between mean relative humidity and reported cases of malaria in the study area. For the result extract, the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient was arrived at 0.274. This by interpretation, implies a weak positive relationship between the mean relative humidity, and reported cases of malaria in the study area. More so, this weak positive relationship was 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 63 ( H ) © 2021 Global Journals Version I (significant value) 0.152 > 0.05. This positive relationship agrees with the study of Minoo et al. (2019). However, while the current study established a non- statistically not significant, as indicated by the p -value