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The Views of Traditional Healers on Health-Seeking Behaviour for Malaria Treatment: A Qualitative Study in Makurdi, Nigeria

Peter Ochepo, Nasreen Ali, Anthony Farrant

Background: There is a dearth of evidence reporting the role of traditional healers in health-seeking behaviours for Malaria treatment in Nigeria. The existing evidence base presents empirical research from the viewpoint of healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists on factors influencing delays to treatment-seeking for Malaria. Understanding the perspectives of traditional healers is also essential in formulating appropriate treatment policies that capture the health needs of the communities they serve and promote prompt and effective health-seeking behaviours for Malaria treatment in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the views of traditional healers on their perceptions and attitudes towards delays in health-seeking behaviours for Malaria treatment in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Methods: A qualitative interpretative research design was used. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with traditional healers. Four traditional healers were based in the Northern bank region of Makurdi, and three were in the Southern bank. Data were analysed using a framework analysis approach.

Results: The main themes that emerged from the interviews were: perceptions of the effectiveness and safety of traditional vs. allopathic treatments; views about malaria risk factors, severity and treatment; access to hospitals and cost of allopathic treatment; and competition between traditional healers and healthcare providers.

Conclusion: Traditional healers are important Malaria treatment providers in Nigeria, and they contribute significantly to influencing the health-seeking behaviours, choices and decisions of people towards non-use and/or delay of biomedical treatment services for Malaria treatment in Nigeria. Malaria policy should recognise the important role that traditional healers play in health-seeking behaviour and develop and deliver community based targeted interventions to prevent delays in health-seeking for Malaria.