A SURVEY OF TREATMENT PRACTICES FOR FEBRILE ILLNESSES AMONG TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN THE NIGERIAN MIDDLE BELT ZONE

Authors

  • Oladuni Osowole
  • Edith Ajaiyeoba
  • Olayinka Bolaji
  • Dora Akinboye
  • Olufunmilayo Fawole
  • Catherine Grace Gbotoso
  • Omonike Ogbole
  • Woquan Sama
  • Oladimeji Oladepo
  • Oludele Itiola
  • Ayoade Oduola

Keywords:

Fever, traditional, treatment practices, Nigeria, middle belt

Abstract

This survey was conducted to investigate the pattern of treatment practices for febrile illnesses among one hundred and eighty five traditional healers from the Nigerian Middle belt zone ethnomedicine. Data collection was through use of the semi structure questionnaire administered by trained interviewers recruited from the study sites - Gboko and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas. A total of 176 (95.1%) reportedly diagnosed through the presenting complaints and symptoms and 3 (1.6%) made diagnoses through divination. All the respondents indicated their referral practices, with 100 (54.1%) of the respondents reported that they had once referred clients. Respondents listed 164 plants used in the preparation of the various treatment modalities. Institution of treatment follows this diagnostic practice. Treatment of different febrile illnesses involve the use of liquid herbs, powdered herbs, medicinal scarifications, incantations and sacrifices which suggests the confidence this group has in the efficacy of their herbs for treating febrile illnesses. An appreciable level of referral 54.1% practice was also found among the traditional healers. The findings of this study strengthen the need to recognize the traditional health practitioners in the treatment of health problems especially febrile illnesses, and to establish quality control mechanism in partnership with them to improve their treatment practices.

Author Biographies

Oladuni Osowole

Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Edith Ajaiyeoba

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Olayinka Bolaji

Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Ibadan

Dora Akinboye

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Olufunmilayo Fawole

Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Catherine Grace Gbotoso

Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Omonike Ogbole

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University Sagamu, Nigeria

Woquan Sama

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Oladimeji Oladepo

Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Oludele Itiola

Department of Pharmacology, Ladoke Akintola University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Ayoade Oduola

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

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Published

2006-01-07

How to Cite

Osowole, O., Ajaiyeoba, E., Bolaji, O., Akinboye, D., Fawole, O., Gbotoso, C. G., Ogbole, O., Sama, W., Oladepo, O., Itiola, O., & Oduola, A. (2006). A SURVEY OF TREATMENT PRACTICES FOR FEBRILE ILLNESSES AMONG TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN THE NIGERIAN MIDDLE BELT ZONE. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2(3), 337 –. Retrieved from https://athmsi.org/journals/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/38

Issue

Section

Research Papers