Nigerian Heads of Households' Attitudes Toward Modern and Traditional Medicines*

Abstract

ABSTRACTTwo hundred and fifty five heads of households were surveyed in Iyekuselu district, Bendel state, Nigeria. Fifteen villages were randomly selected from the list of 107 villages that constitute the district. A total of seventeen heads of households were interviewed in each of the fifteen villages. This survey was conducted to assess the attitudes of subjects toward modern medicine and traditional medicine. The heads of households generally expressed positive attitudes toward the health services provided at the modern medicine facilities. Some of them also reported accepting traditional healing administered by native doctors as legitimate alternative health care. For the illnesses considered in this study, the majority of the respondents were willing to consider modern medicine.