CULTURE AND RESPONSES TOWARD DISEASES AND WELLNESS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN AMANSEA COMMUNITY OF AWKA NORTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT Culture has been found to significantly influences how people perceive health and respond to illness, shaping their choices between traditional remedies and modern medical treatments. For the elderly, these cultural beliefs play a crucial role in health outcomes and access to care. Thus, understanding and addressing these cultural factors is key to promoting positive health behaviors and improving wellness in diverse communities. Thus, this study investigated culture and responses toward diseases and wellness among the elderly in Amansea community of Awka North LGA, Anambra State. Six research questions and two hypotheses guided the study and social constructionism theory constituted the theoretical framework for the study. The mixed methods research design was used for this study and a sample of 204 was drawn from the population of the study. The questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were the instruments used for data collection and we're administered on a face-to-face basis by the researcher with the aid of two research assistant. Quantitative data for the study were processed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables, simple percentages and graphic illustrations were used to analyse the quantitative data while content analysis was used for analysing the qualitative data. The study hypotheses were tested using chi-square inferential statistics. The study found that the most prevalent cultural orientation is modern medical orientation. The study also found that culture positively affect the response of both the elderly and people of Amansea towards disease and wellness issues among the elderly population as the culture of Amansea supports modern medicine and visit to clinics for treatment. The study further found that there are no cultural practices that stigmatize or discriminate diseases and health challenges of the elderly and people in Amansea community. However, adverse effects culture on the response of illness issue among the elderly and the people towards disease and wellness situations is that it leads to reliance on ineffective medical procedures and therapy. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that community cabinet and chambers in Amansea should regularly review existing cultural laws and practices related to health and illness behavior as this will ensure that outdated or ineffective health practices are revised or eliminated to promote positive illness behaviors and encourage the use of modern medical treatments.