TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TERMINAL DISEASES IN IGBO LAND NIGERIA
Ayuk Clara Oben& Mgbenkemdi E.H
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Department of Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Email: sayhitoayukclara@gmail.com; iamejike@yahoo.co.uk
ABSTRACT:
This study on traditional medicine and psychological effectiveness in the treatment of terminal diseases was carried out among women in Igboland, South-Eastern, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between traditional healing and treatment of hemorrhoids as well as the relationship between traditional healing and the treatment of diabetes among women. Two hypotheses were formulated to determine the outcome of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted to observe the procedures in the traditional treatment of diabetes and piles. 40 respondents participated in the study and data collected using a 10-item structured questionnaire. Instruments of data analysis were the simple Chi Square and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient. Study found that there was no significant relationship between traditional healing and treatment of hemorrhoids as well as a perfect negative correlation between traditional healing and treatment of diabetes mellitus among women in Igboland. The study concluded that the treatment of hemorrhoids and diabetes in the traditional healing system was simply to eliminate pains and eradicate the symptoms, and that complete cure of diabetes involves other factors such as nutrition, physical activities, etc.
Keywords: Traditional medicine, psychological effectiveness, management and terminal diseases
