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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
pharmacology, toxicology and pharmaceutics
Cultural categorization of febrile illnesses in correlation with herbal remedies used for treatment in Southwestern Nigeria
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 85, No. 2-3, Year 2003
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Description
The ethnographic study was conducted in two communities in Oyo State in Southwestern Nigeria. The study sites consisted of a rural and an urban local government area located in the tropical rain forest zone of Nigeria. The study was designed to obtain information on febrile illnesses and herbal remedies for treatment with the aim of identifying potential antimalarial drugs. The study revealed that fever is a general term for describing illnesses associated with elevated body temperature. The indigenous Yoruba ethnic population has categorized fever based on symptoms and causes. The present communication is the result of focus group discussion and semi-structured questionnaire administered to traditional healers, herb sellers, elders and mothers. This was on types of fevers, symptoms and causes of febrile illnesses. The investigation also included use of traditional herbs in the prevention and treatment of the illnesses in the two communities. A total of 514 respondents were interviewed. This was made up of 266 (51.8%) from Atiba local government area (LGA), an urban centre while 248 (48.2%) respondents were interviewed from Itesiwaju LGA, a rural community. The LGAs are located in Oyo State of Nigeria. The respondents proffered 12 types of febrile illnesses in a multiple response answering system in Yoruba language. The most common ones (direct translation into English) were: yellow fever (39.1%), typhoid (34.8%), ordinary (28.8%), rainy season (20.8%) and headache (10.5%) fevers, respectively. Perceived causes of each of the febrile illnesses included stress, mosquito bites, unclean water, rains and over exposure to the sun. Methods of fever prevention were mainly with the use of herbal decoctions, powdered herbs, orthodox medications and maintenance of proper hygiene. Of a total of 112 different herbal remedies used in the treatment of the febrile illnesses compiled from the study, 25 recipes are presented. Recipes consisted of 2-7 ingredients. Oral decoctions (84%), oral powders (63%), use as soaps and creams (40%) in a multiple response system, were the most prevalent routes of administration of prepared herbs used in the treatment of the fevers. Boiling in water or alcohol was the most common method used in the preparation of the remedies. The four most frequently mentioned (multiple response system) plants in the Southwest ethnobotany for fevers were Azadirachta indica (87.5%), Mangifera indica (75.0%), Morinda lucida (68.8%) and Citrus medica (68.8%). © 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Ajaiyeoba, Edith Oriabure
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
United States, Blacksburg
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Oladepo, Oladimeji O.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Fawole, Olufunmilayo Ibitola
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Bolaji, Olayinka M.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Akinboye, Dora Olufunmilola
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Ogundahunsi, Olumide A.T.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Falade, Catherine Olufunke
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Gbotosho, Grace Olusola
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Itiola, Oludele Adelanwa
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Happi, Christian Tientcha
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Ebong, O. O.
Nigeria, Port Harcourt
University of Port Harcourt
Ononiwu, I. M.
Nigeria, Port Harcourt
University of Port Harcourt
Osowole, O. S.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Oduola, O. O.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Ashidi, J. S.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Oduola, Ayoade M.J.
Nigeria, Ibadan
University of Ibadan
Statistics
Citations: 85
Authors: 16
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00357-4
ISSN:
03788741
Research Areas
Environmental
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Substance Abuse
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Ethnographic Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Nigeria