A Survey Of Treatment Practices For Febrile Illnesses Among Traditional Healers In The Nigerian Middle Belt Zone

Abstract

This survey was conducted to investigate the pattern of treatment practices for

febrile illnesses among one hundred and eighty five traditional healers from the Nigerian

Middle belt zone ethnomedicine. Data collection was through use of the semi structure

questionnaire administered by trained interviewers recruited from the study sites - Gboko

and Katsina Ala Local Government Areas. A total of 176 (95.1%) reportedly diagnosed

through the presenting complaints and symptoms and 3 (1.6%) made diagnoses through

divination. All the respondents indicated their referral practices, with 100 (54.1 %) of the

respondents reported that they had once referred clients. Respondents listed 164 plants

used in the preparation of the various treatment modalities. Institution of treatment follows

this diagnostic practice. Treatment of different febrile illnesses involve the use of

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