AN APPRAISAL OF THE ROLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN IKWERE RIVER STATE

Abstract

The paper assess the role and contributions of traditional healers in health care delivery system in Ikwerre, the study evaluated the Obio-Akpor healers in the Ikwerre Community and their patients, the patients in particular perceived the efficacy of their services and have continued to patronage them up till date. A total of 200 residents participated in this study. The research utilized simple random sampling techniques and I purposive sampling on selecting the healers and their patients as well as people of Ikwerre Community. Questionnaire and oral interview were administered to the people of the Community and majority of them have expressed satisfaction with their healing practices, powers, skills and methodology. The finding also showed that all categories of Obio-Akpor people have been patronizing them, ranging strata, Christians, Muslims, amongst others, despite sex differences and differences in socio-demographic characteristics of the people, majoring of the respondents through. Regression analysis expressed satisfaction with the traditional healer's services. The study thus recommended that for greater impact of traditional healers to be felt by the people of Obio-Akpor, integrating them with modern healers at primary health care level should be the better option, than the present separate development strategy.