Insights Into Benin Traditional Methods of Disease Prevention

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to examine Benin traditional and cultural methods of disease prevention. The article considered role of taboos, traditional medicine and disease prevention strategies by people of Benin and specifically identified personal health promotion, environmental sanitation, oral hygiene, wrestling combats and appeasement as some of methods used to prevent incidence of disease. Introduction Health can be defined in different ways based on individual perception or understanding of concept of health. In other words, health is relative concept that has no clear definition. However, there is informed consensus among Benin that health means the possession of purified or clean mind in an active body capable of promoting peaceful living and in complete harmony with oneself, neighbors and community in which we live, whereas, sickness or ill-health means a violation of certain taboos or offending some invisible force, i.e. gods or deities, capable of upsetting peace of mind and body, (Amadasun, 1987). Similarly, it is also believed by people of Benin that wicked neighbors, witchcraft and violation of taboos are responsible for disease causation. These beliefs by people are not different from beliefs that exist in Lafia community in Nigeria, where there tends to be an attachment of diseases to supernatural forces, (Okon, 1992). Indeed, people of Benin believe in so called evil eye and ascribe causes of disease to bewitchments from parents, friends and relations. Thus it is appropriate to say that health educators in Nigeria and in other countries are making efforts to educate people on scientific causes of diseases, but lot is still desired of them. Geographically, people of Benin are found in Edo State, Nigeria and presently occupy south-south geo-political zone of country; many others reside in sub-urban and rural areas of Edo State (Benin City is capita). The climatic condition is humid and eighty five percent (85%) of population are small farmers, and other members of community include craftsmen (2%), traders (10%), musicians (2%) and civil servants (1%). The predominant religion is animism; however there are Christians and Moslems, but few in number whereas all theoretically owe allegiance to Oba, traditional ruler of Kingdom of Benin. And in this construct, people are very religious and therefore subscribe to worship with faith in many gods and goddesses which prompt people to think every disease is product of handwork of wicked neighbors. Thus gods and goddesses such as: Osonobua or Osa supreme god, Olokun god of sea and giver of good luck, riches and children; Ogiuwu god of death, Esu devil or biblical Satan Ennmiowa spirit of departed, Aro-erha ancestral shrine, Osun god of water and Orunmila god of wisdom add complexity question of religion and public health. Considering above, primary objective of this paper is to provide information regarding traditional health practices among people of Benin in rural areas and how these practices have influenced their health status. And second, we recognize that many traditional beliefs and practices common among people are beneficial to their health and thus need to be highlighted to advance greater health and wellbeing in Nigeria and other parts of world. Health Challenges Not surprisingly, people of Benin face major health challenges which include: malaria, typhoid fever, measles, cholera, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse and other communicable diseases, notwithstanding an increase in infant morbidity and mortality (Udoh, 1993). Hence, in many parts of Benin (particularly in rural areas) death rates have increased, (Edigin, 2004), and many children (especially those of school age) die of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and chickenpox, coupled with cases of genital infections arising from traditional practices such as female genital mutilations and fissure vaginal fistula, diabetics, and hypertension. …