Perception, Knowledge and Challenges of the Use of Traditional Medicine among Residents of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the knowledge, perception and challenges associated with the use of traditional medicine among the residents of Jos south Local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted using a systematic random sampling technique

Place and Study Duration: Jos south Local Government Area, Plateau state, Nigeria. Between October 2019 and March 2020

Methodology: A total of 204 residents of Jos South participated in this study. The sample units were households within the study location while the study units are individuals 18 years and above living in those houses who have been residents of the study location for at least six months. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection from the study participants

Results: A total of 204 individuals participated in this study (117 women and 87 men). More than half of the study participants (64%) use traditional medicine and about 60% of them belief that it is safe. Nevertheless, 32% of the respondents are of the opinion that traditional medicine is more effective than orthodox medicine but only 26% of them belief that it is safer than orthodox medicine. Meanwhile, 61% of them would support the integration of traditional medicine into the conventional healthcare delivery system, whereas nearly one-third (74%) of the study population is convinced that government should set-up and fund facilities that provide traditional medicine services. Also, majority of the study participants (54%) belief that the availability of traditional medicine enhances access to healthcare

Conclusion: There is a high acceptability and patronage of traditional medicine among the residents of Jos south LGA of Plateau state, Nigeria. Majority of the population also supports the integration of traditional medicine into the conventional healthcare delivery system