TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PRACTICES ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF ADOLESCENTS IN OJO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of traditional cultural practices on the health and well-being of adolescents in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria.
The research utilized a quantitative method, The population of the study consist of 150 adolescents in Lagos State, A multistage stratified random sampling technique was employed. Quantitative data analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis was used to analysed the data collected from the respondents .
Four hypotheses were tested using chi-square analysis to determine the significance of the relationships. The first hypothesis explored the relationship between traditional health practices and physical health indicators. Findings revealed a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05), indicating that traditional practices such as herbal medicine and body scarification are perceived to impact adolescents’ physical health. The second hypothesis tested the influence of traditional culture on adolescents' social support systems. Results showed a significant influence (p < 0.05), suggesting that cultural activities like festivals and communal rituals strengthen social cohesion among adolescents. The third hypothesis assessed the impact of traditional practices on healthcare-seeking behaviour and the accessibility of healthcare services. The data demonstrated a significant impact (p < 0.05), with many adolescents favouring traditional healers and remedies. Lastly, the fourth hypothesis examined differences in health outcomes based on adolescents’ engagement with traditional practices. Significant differences were found (p < 0.05), highlighting both positive and negative health implications of cultural practices. Overall, the study concludes that traditional cultural practices significantly affect physical health, social support, healthcare behaviour, and health outcomes among adolescents in Ojo Local Government Area. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive public health strategies that integrate traditional beliefs with modern health practices.
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