Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis

Toyin Adefolaju

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

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Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis

Toyin Adefolaju

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 2, Issue 4)

Received: 11 August 2013 Accepted: 25 July 2014 Published: 30 July 2014

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Abstract

Every society makes provisions for health care delivery systems for its members. This is with a view to providing 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 contigent. These societies thus developed indigeneous medical systems through interactions with their environment wherein the health needs of the people were met. The aftermath of colonisation in Nigeria has however presented two health care systems- traditional and orthodox- which seem to work at cross purposes in meeting the health needs of the people. While orthodox practice enjoys official recognition, traditional practice is derided by the authorities. Yet a significant proportion of the population (about 70 per cent) still patronise the traditional health practitioners. It is obvious that the two forms of medical practice have come to stay and it is logical therefore to explore the possibility of both being available to the people for improved health care delivery system for the people . This paper, through literature reviews, examines the structures and features of both medical systems in Nigeria with a view to finding a convergence that will be to the advantage of the populace.

Published in	American Journal of Health Research (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13
Page(s)	118-124
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Traditional, Orthodox, Medicine, Health Care, Nigeria

References

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APA Style

Toyin Adefolaju. (2014). Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis. American Journal of Health Research, 2(4), 118-124. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

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Toyin Adefolaju. Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis. Am. J. Health Res. 2014, 2(4), 118-124. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

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Toyin Adefolaju. Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis. Am J Health Res. 2014;2(4):118-124. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13,
  author = {Toyin Adefolaju},
  title = {Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {118-124},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20140204.13},
  abstract = {Every society makes provisions for health care delivery systems for its members. This is with a view to providing 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 contigent. These societies thus developed indigeneous medical systems through interactions with their environment wherein the health needs of the people were met. The aftermath of colonisation in Nigeria has however presented two health care systems- traditional and orthodox- which seem to work at cross purposes in meeting the health needs of the people. While orthodox practice enjoys official recognition, traditional practice is derided by the authorities. Yet a significant proportion of the population (about 70 per cent) still patronise the traditional health practitioners. It is obvious that the two forms of medical practice have come to stay and it is logical therefore to explore the possibility of both being available to the people for improved health care delivery system for the people . This paper, through literature reviews, examines the structures and features of both medical systems in Nigeria with a view to finding a convergence that will be to the advantage of the populace.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis
AU  - Toyin Adefolaju
Y1  - 2014/07/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13
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JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 118
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - Every society makes provisions for health care delivery systems for its members. This is with a view to providing 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 contigent. These societies thus developed indigeneous medical systems through interactions with their environment wherein the health needs of the people were met. The aftermath of colonisation in Nigeria has however presented two health care systems- traditional and orthodox- which seem to work at cross purposes in meeting the health needs of the people. While orthodox practice enjoys official recognition, traditional practice is derided by the authorities. Yet a significant proportion of the population (about 70 per cent) still patronise the traditional health practitioners. It is obvious that the two forms of medical practice have come to stay and it is logical therefore to explore the possibility of both being available to the people for improved health care delivery system for the people . This paper, through literature reviews, examines the structures and features of both medical systems in Nigeria with a view to finding a convergence that will be to the advantage of the populace.
VL  - 2
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Author Information

Toyin Adefolaju

Department of Sociology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

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APA Style

Toyin Adefolaju. (2014). Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis. American Journal of Health Research, 2(4), 118-124. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

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ACS Style

Toyin Adefolaju. Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis. Am. J. Health Res. 2014, 2(4), 118-124. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

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AMA Style

Toyin Adefolaju. Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis. Am J Health Res. 2014;2(4):118-124. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13,
  author = {Toyin Adefolaju},
  title = {Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {118-124},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20140204.13},
  abstract = {Every society makes provisions for health care delivery systems for its members. This is with a view to providing 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 contigent. These societies thus developed indigeneous medical systems through interactions with their environment wherein the health needs of the people were met. The aftermath of colonisation in Nigeria has however presented two health care systems- traditional and orthodox- which seem to work at cross purposes in meeting the health needs of the people. While orthodox practice enjoys official recognition, traditional practice is derided by the authorities. Yet a significant proportion of the population (about 70 per cent) still patronise the traditional health practitioners. It is obvious that the two forms of medical practice have come to stay and it is logical therefore to explore the possibility of both being available to the people for improved health care delivery system for the people . This paper, through literature reviews, examines the structures and features of both medical systems in Nigeria with a view to finding a convergence that will be to the advantage of the populace.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Traditional and Orthodox Medical Systems in Nigeria: The Imperative of a Synthesis
AU  - Toyin Adefolaju
Y1  - 2014/07/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 118
EP  - 124
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20140204.13
AB  - Every society makes provisions for health care delivery systems for its members. This is with a view to providing 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 contigent. These societies thus developed indigeneous medical systems through interactions with their environment wherein the health needs of the people were met. The aftermath of colonisation in Nigeria has however presented two health care systems- traditional and orthodox- which seem to work at cross purposes in meeting the health needs of the people. While orthodox practice enjoys official recognition, traditional practice is derided by the authorities. Yet a significant proportion of the population (about 70 per cent) still patronise the traditional health practitioners. It is obvious that the two forms of medical practice have come to stay and it is logical therefore to explore the possibility of both being available to the people for improved health care delivery system for the people . This paper, through literature reviews, examines the structures and features of both medical systems in Nigeria with a view to finding a convergence that will be to the advantage of the populace.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download