A SURVEY OF TREATMENT PRACTICES FOR FEBRILE ILLNESSES AMONG TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN THE NIGERIAN MIDDLE BELT ZONE
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 interv...
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Veröffentlicht in: | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines complementary, and alternative medicines, 2005-08, Vol.2 (3) |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | 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. |
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ISSN: | 0189-6016 0189-6016 |
DOI: | 10.4314/ajtcam.v2i3.31132 |