DEFORESTATION AND CHALLENGES OF TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE IN SAPELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Deforestation which lunched Nigeria into world capitalist system depleted the forest which indigenous people rely on for maintaining health. Although, it is widely perceived that grinding poverty exposed the forest to depletion, careful examination revealed that, the disintegration of traditional beliefs and practices heightened unsustainable utilization of the forest. Consequently, numerous diseases and illnesses increased as (73%) of the people became alienated from their forest and related practices which maintain health. Thus, the study examined the impact of deforestation and challenges of traditional health care in Nigeria. Explanations of variables anchored on environmental health model which analysed the relevance of the forest to human health. A total of 300 participants which include household heads, titled chiefs, forest custodian, traditional medicine practitioners and modern health care personnel’s were co-opted for the study. Questionnaire, in-depth interviews, observation, and key informants were used in generating data. Qualitative data were analysed by verbatim extraction of responses. Quantitative data was analysed with probit regression model with the statistical package for the social sciences. (x=1.51; P<0.05) shows that depletion of forests impact negatively on the people’s health. Depletion forest affected indigenous preventive and curative health care services. Depletion also displaced traditional health practitioners.