Concurrent Use of Traditional and Orthodox Modes of Healthcare Services among Out-Patient Nursing Mothers in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Every society makes provisions for the health care delivery system for its members, this is intending to provide medical and related services for the maintenance of good health, particularly through the prevention and treatment of diseases. This is in recognition of the pervasive importance of good health upon which life is contingent. Despite the development of more researched and formulated orthodox medicines, herbal medicines continue to be well patronized by persons across the world with some patrons concurrently using both forms, oblivious of the unwelcome effects that may occur. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. For the study, a quantitative approach was used in analyzing the data collected, the population of the study were females between the ages 15-49 with a total of 1081 nursing mothers in Ikenne Local Government Area (LGA), Ogun Nigeria. Sample size determination calculation by Cochran was used to determine the sample size of 190. A multi-stage random sampling, purposive sampling and accidental sampling technique were used to select the respondents. The study revealed that all the social and demographic characteristics of respondents except community had a significant association with respondents’ concurrent usage of herbal and orthodox medicines. It was also observed that 2 in every 10 nursing mothers uses both orthodox and herbal drugs concurrently on their children. The study concluded that 11.05% of respondents concurrently used herbal and orthodox medicines for infant health problems.