ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND THE TREATMENT OF INFERTILITY AMONG COUPLES IN GUMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the use of alternative medicine for the treatment of infertility in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The specific objectives were to assess the rate of usage of alternative medicine in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, examine the factors influencing the use of alternative medicine among couples in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, assess how alternative medicine affects the treatment of infertility among couples in Guma Government Area of Benue state, Nigeria, examine the challenges of alternative medicine in the treatment of infertility among couples in Guma Local Government Area of Benue state, Nigeria. The study adopted Easterlin’s Fertility Decision Making Theory. This study adopted survey design. A multistage sampling technique was used for the study. The sample size of this study was determined using Cochran Sample Size formula (1977). In-depth interview and key informant interview were used for data collection. This study adopted content analysis in analyzing data. The findings showed that respondents used alternative medicine because of its affordability and personal beliefs about the medicine, ‘availability and have no side effects respectively. On the challenges of alternative medicine in the treatment of infertility among couples in Guma Local Government Area of Benue state, Nigeria. It was found that the widespread reported cases of fake healers and healing, The acceptance of Western religion, education, urbanisation and globalisation phenomena in Africa is affecting the use of alternative medicine. The study suggested that a comprehensive healthcare system in Nigeria has to focus more on the 65% of rural people who are the poorest of the poor. There should be a coordinated effort to improve rural infrastructure and design behavioural health promotion campaigns to inform and educate the rural people that the desirable health-seeking behaviour is to patronize health facilities for medical treatment by qualified healthcare providers.