Rural Household Attitude towards Traditional Methods of Malaria Treatment in South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed rural households’ attitude towards traditional methods of malaria treatment and cultural beliefs that affect choice of malaria treatment for enhanced agricultural production in south-east, Nigeria. A sample size of 360 household heads was randomly selected for the study. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FGD), key informant interview and participant observation. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution and percentages were used to achieve the stated objectives. Respondents from the three states studied had positive attitude towards traditional methods of malaria treatment (grand mean= 3.47, 3.77, and 3.05 for Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States respectively), although respondents from Abia (?̅ = 2.83) and Imo States (?̅ = 2.41) disagreed that the environment under which traditional medicines for malaria treatment were prepared was hygienic. They indicated that traditional methods of malaria treatments have less chemical residues (?̅= 3.50 and 3.48, for Abia, and Ebonyi States, respectively). The study suggests the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, particularly orthodox medical personnel and traditional healers so as to have concerted efforts to ensure sustained malaria treatment.

Key words: Traditional treatment of malaria, Rural household’s attitude to malaria treatment.