PEOPLES’ SOCIAL WELFARISM AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PRACTICE IN THE URBAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the peoples’ social welfare in respect to the traditional medicine as a means of health care services in Ilesha East Local Government area of Osun State, Nigeria. The study sampled 150 respondents which consists nursing mothers and elderly between the age of 18 and above who at a time had contacts with traditional medical practitioners and have been living in the community for more than six months within the study area. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the 11 political wards in Ilesha East local government area which was divided into zone A, B and C. The streets in each zone were listed and randomly chosen for the study. Textbooks, academic journals, seminars/workshops/conference papers, online materials, media clippings, and government gazette were used to gather secondary data. The information gathered was evaluated using descriptive statistical methods. The results revealed that traditional medicine is far better in tackling physical, mental and spiritual infirmities than modern medicine (88.0%), herbal products have high efficacy/potency as proven by NAFDAC herbal products registration, (67.3%) of the respondents derived satisfaction with the effects and outcome of using herbal medicines. The study concluded that as against the old practice traditional medicine practitioner now embrace modern science which Fuoye Journal of Public Administration and Management ISSN: 2992 – 4863 Vol.1 No.2 2023 1 has positively improved the traditional medicine practice on the social welfare of people in Ilesa East local government.