A COMPARISON OF HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOURS BETWEEN RURAL YORUBA AND FULANI RESIDENTS OF IBARAPA CENTRAL AND NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF OYO STATE.

Abstract

The rural areas of south-western Nigeria are inhabited mainly by Yoruba speaking farmers, while the areas with Savannah landscape are also favourable for the nomadic Fulani and their cattle. The small farming hamlets in these areas are generally under-served by the health system, and the population often depends on local herbs and itinerant medicine vendors for medical care. While the Yoruba and the Fulani occupy the same geographical area, they live in separate settlements whose patterns reflect their cultural differences. Such cultural differences are also likely to manifest in different health care seeking preferences and behaviours. This cross-sectional study was designed to document recent illnesses among rural Yoruba and Fulani residents of Ibarapa Central and North Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the similarities and differences in their health seeking behaviours for those illnesses. The study was descriptive, employing a survey design. The study population consisted of all persons aged 18 years and above living in the approximately 400 Yoruba farm hamlets and 60 Fulani settlements within the two LGAs. A total of 611 people who were selected by simple random sampling technique were interviewed, of whom 333 (54.5%) were Yoruba The findings showed that an illness was reported in the month prior to interview by 228 (37.3%) respondents, among whom were 119 (35.7%) Yoruba and 109 (39.2%) Fulani. Fifty-one (42 9%) Yoruba and 49 (45%) Fulani who were ill complained of pains, while 44 (37.0%) Yoruba and 45 (41 3%) Fulani who were ill complained of fever/malaria. Among the Fulani who were ill, 40 (36.7%) went to a private hospital compared to 28 (23.5%) of the Yoruba respondents (p < 0.042). On the other hand, government facilities were patronised by 40 (33.6%) Yoruba respondents who were ill compared to 23 (21.1%) Fulani (p < 0 039). The most common types of care for both groups were herbal remedies at home: as indicated by 74 (62.2%) Yoruba and 70 (64.2%) Fulani. The second most common option for those who were sick was drugs from shops as indicated by 70 (58.8%) Yoruba and 68 (63.3%) Fulani. More Yoruba respondents (171 or 51.4%) than Fulani respondents (95 or 34.2%) said that government facilities give proper treatment. On the other hand, 221 (66.4%) Yoruba thought that private clinics offered proper treatment compared to 190 (68.3%) Fulani. In conclusion, the rural dwellers relied on home remedies and medicine shops for the bulk of their health care. When seeking orthodox care, the Fulani prefer and make greater use of private clinics, while the Yoruba are more oriented toward the public sector. The findings imply that the Yoruba may feel an ownership of the public facilities located in their midst, while the Fulani, as outsiders, may have more affinity to private clinics. Health education efforts need to recognise these different preferences and encourage health seeking behaviours that suit the different populations in the Ibarapa LGAs.