Response of parents to five killer diseases among children in a Yoruba community, Nigeria

This paper examines the various ways through which adults' health beliefs and attitudes affect their responses to five major killer diseases during childhood. The data for the study were derived from in-depth interviews conducted between December 1988 and January 1989 in a Yoruba community, Nigeria. The diseases covered in the study include diarrhoea, measles, tetanus, pertussis and fever. It was observed that teething and food related causes were believed to be responsible for diarrhoea; the cause of measles and pertussis was generally unknown; tetanus was usually associated with convulsions; and fever was believed to be caused by roaming in the sun and by constipation. Herbal tea, modern drugs and prayers were the most commonly prescribed treatments for these diseases. It was observed that most mothers used alternative sources of health care, rather than hospitals, clinics and maternity centres, in their treatment of diseases among children. Prominent among the alternative sources were patent medicine stores where there were personalistic social interaction between clients and operators, free consultancy and flexible pricing. Parents' location at the time of a child's sickness, access to good advisers, the perceived seriousness of the sickness and religious beliefs of mothers were important determinants of their response. Avoidance of blame was noted to be a major motivating force in parents' search for potential sources of health care. The paper concludes that although some of the practices might have negative health implications, they could be usefully adapted to the goal of self-reliance in medical care as a strategy for attaining health for all by the year 2000.