Self-medication and Patronage of Orthodox Medical Facilities among the Indigenous People of Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

The study examines the relationship between self-medication and patronage of orthodox medical facilities in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Three research objectives were drawn which guided the formulation of three null hypotheses from the independent variable. The study adopted descriptive survey design. 17-item questionnaires entitled “Self-medication. And Patronage of Orthodox Medical Facilities (SMPOMF)” were distributed to four hundred and forty-eight (448) respondents selected through simple random sampling technique from the study area. In addition, key informants (KII) were used as data collection instrument. The reliability test of the instrument was conducted using the Cronbach reliability method. Data were gathered through primary and secondary sources and were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and One-way ANOVA statistical techniques. The three hypotheses, tested at 0.5 level of significance, revealed that, there is a significant relationship between belief system, level of awareness (p=.337), proximity to medical facility and self-medication in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria (p=.325). This confirms that, there is a significant relationship between self-medication and patronage of orthodox medical facilities in the study area. The study recommends among other things, that, traditional medical practice should be integrated into the primary healthcare system to grant it a formal status in the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria. In addition, the safety and regulation of traditional medicine should be assessed to improve its standard and efficacy. Furthermore, government should build more medical facilities in the study area to encourage people to patronize these facilities when faced with health challenges; rather than reverting to traditional medicine and self-medication, which in most times are ineffective.