Demographic characteristics and indigenous knowledge sharing practices among trado-medical practitioners in ijebu north local government area of ogun state, nigeria

Project Abstract

This research project aims to investigate the demographic characteristics and indigenous knowledge sharing practices among traditional medical practitioners in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Traditional medicine plays a significant role in healthcare delivery in many African communities, including Ijebu North. However, there is limited research on the demographic profile of traditional medical practitioners and their knowledge sharing practices in this region. This study seeks to fill this gap by exploring the age, gender, educational background, and years of experience of traditional medical practitioners, as well as their methods of sharing indigenous knowledge within their communities. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather data from traditional medical practitioners in Ijebu North. The quantitative survey will collect demographic information such as age, gender, and educational background, while the qualitative interviews will explore the practitioners' experiences, knowledge sharing practices, and challenges faced in preserving and transmitting indigenous medical knowledge. The data collected will be analyzed using both descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to the demographic characteristics and knowledge sharing practices of traditional medical practitioners. Understanding the demographic characteristics of traditional medical practitioners is crucial for developing targeted interventions to support their practice and preserve indigenous knowledge systems. By examining factors such as age, gender, educational background, and years of experience, this research will provide insights into the diversity and expertise of traditional medical practitioners in Ijebu North. Furthermore, exploring the knowledge sharing practices of these practitioners will shed light on how indigenous medical knowledge is transmitted within the community and the challenges they face in doing so. The findings of this research project will contribute to the existing literature on traditional medicine in Nigeria and inform policies and programs aimed at supporting traditional medical practitioners and promoting the integration of traditional and modern healthcare systems. By highlighting the demographic characteristics and knowledge sharing practices of traditional medical practitioners in Ijebu North, this study will help to preserve and promote indigenous medical knowledge for future generations.

Project Overview

<p> </p><p>Indigenous knowledge sharing practice is a common practice among the elderly in rural communities in Nigeria. The rate at which western education is dominating the world portends that indigenous knowledge would fade if better ways to disseminate and preserve it is not devised. Its preservation and dissemination is largely dependent on whether young generation has the heritage of preserving indigenous knowledge at heart. Hence, the study examined demographic characteristics and indigenous knowledge sharing practices among trado-medical practitioners in Ijebu North Local Government Areas of Ogun State.</p><p>The survey research design was used for the study. The study population was made up of three hundred and fifty-nine Trado-medical practitioners in Ijebu North Local Government Area in Ogun State. Total enumeration was employed to include the entire population of the study group. The instrument for data collection was self-structured questionnaire. The Cronbach’s Alpha used to test reliability coefficient for indigenous knowledge practice was 0.90, the demographic characteristics of trado-medical practitioners was 0.74 and indigenous knowledge was 0.86 and overall coefficient was 0.90. Data were analyzed using descriptive, linear regression and multiple regression analyses.</p><p>Finding showed that marital status (85.2% ), sex (59.0%) and age (55.8%) with 43yrs above were the major demographic characteristics that enhance knowledge sharing practices among trado-medical practitioners. Nature observation (87.1%), training and apprentice (85.5%), brainstorming (84.8%), community of practice (82.6%) and discussion (71.9%) were mostly used by trado-medical practitioners for adequate knowledge sharing practices. Also, indigenous knowledge practice can be promoted through many social and formal Media (73.2%). Some of the major challenges encountered by trado-medical practitioners while sharing indigenous knowledge include the fact that the young generation of today do not consider the heritage of preserving indigenous knowledge as a priority (73.2%), the idea of traditionalizing all the status and images 75.2%, differentiating indigenous knowledge from others and (57.7%) showed lack of interest among young generation to preserve the knowledge due to the wide acceptance of western education.</p><p>The study concluded that demographic factors enhances indigenous knowledge sharing among trado-medical practitioners and found that marital status, sex and age were factors that enhanced trado-medical practitioners ability to share knowledge with ease, while the most prevailing challenge against the spread of indigenous knowledge is the attitude of young generation towards preserving and disseminating the knowledge. Based on the observed challenge, the researcher recommends that preservation of indigenous knowledge should be intensified by trado-medical practitioners among the young generation, government should increase the supervision and quality control of herbal drugs distribution around the Nigeria and establish support team to enable trado-medical practitioner’s function and help the society.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Demographic Characteristics, Indigenous Knowledge, Knowledge Sharing Practice, Trado-medical Practitioner, and Ijebu North Local Government</p> <br><p></p>