Assessment of Rural Farmers’ Perception and Utilization of Traditional Medicines in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed rural farmers’ perception and utilization of traditional medicines in Imo state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used. Randomly, 2 zones were sampled; 2 blocks chosen from each of the sampled zone; and 2 circles selected from each of the chosen block. A total of 96 respondents were randomly selected. However, only responses from 90 respondents were found useful for the data analysis. Respondents’ age and household size were measured at interval level while educational level was measured at ordinal level. Respondents’ perception to traditional medicine was measured using a 4 point Likert-typed scale and categorized as favourable (≥mean) and unfavourable (<mean). Use of traditional medicine was rated as frequently used(4), moderately used(3), rarely used(2), and not used(1) and ranked using mean criterion. Data were collected with well-structured questionnaire and analyzed with percentage, mean, and PPMC. Average age and household size were 51.28±10.06 and 8.00±3.00 respectively, while 40.0% had secondary education. Majority (70.0%) had favourable perception towards traditional medicine. Treatment of rheumatism and digestive issue with uziza (x̄=3.74), treatment of digestive problem with scent leaf (x̄=3.57), and treatment of rheumatism with ekpuaku (x̄=3.56) ranked most frequently utilized traditional medicine. Significant relationship existed between farmers’ perception and utilization of traditional medicine (r=0.427; p=0.000). The study concludes that despite varying educational background, majority of the respondents had favourable perception and frequent usage of traditional medicines. Extension professionals should be mandated by government to educate rural people on proper way of using traditional remedies so as to avoid their harmful effect.