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Information Sources And Use Of Traditional Medicine Among Farmers
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Hence, it is
important to stress the relevance of traditional medicine preference as a
researchable issue among farmers in Edo and Delta States. Most
Nigerians especially those living in the rural communities don’t have
access to orthodox medicine and it is estimated that over 75% of the
populace still prefers to solve their health problems consulting
traditional healers (Awudu, 2000) where such access exist, there is a
rising cost of imported medication and other commodities used for
medicines. Besides, many rural communities have great faith in
traditional medicine particularly the inexplicable aspect as they
believe it is the wisdoms of their fore-fathers which also recognize
their socio-cultural and religious background which orthodox medicine
seems to reject. Recent result/report shows that more people in the
world embraces traditional medicine.
In 1996, the World Health
Organization Published (WHO Policy and activities in the field of
traditional medicine) that in China, the ratio of medical doctors to 1
population stood at 1:20,000 compared with traditional practitioners’
ratio of 1:2,000.
Therefore, this study seeks to examine or ascertain
farmers’ preference and the determinants for such preference in Edo and
Delta States. It is also interesting and worthy of note that the
National Agency for food, drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have
encouraged some traditional medicine practitioners by registration of
traditional medicines and approving the usage of traditional medicines
and approving the usage of traditional medicine with approved NAFDAC
numbers. This is done in recognition of the efficacy of traditional
medicine.
Based on these facts, the questions that this study seeks to address are:
What are the farmers’ socio-economic characteristics?
What is respondents’ access and preference for sources of information on traditional medicine?
What ailment do respondents use traditional medicine for?
What effect do ailments have on respondent’s agricultural production?
How effective is the traditional medicine and what are respondents reasons for preference?
What constraint do respondents face in their farming activities and treatment of ailment using traditional medicine?
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