The Impact of Culture and Religion on the Healthcare Seeking Behavior Amongst the Residents of Anambra State, Nigeria with Regards to Malaria Treatment

The purpose of this study was to examine how the local culture and religion in Anambra State, Nigeria (ASN) contribute to low healthcare utilization regarding malaria treatment. The intent was to investigate ways that residents of ASN seek and obtain adequate healthcare for malaria treatment based on their cultural and religious affiliations. The ethnomedical and health belief models formed the theoretical foundation for this study. The study used quantitative cross sectional design. A structured questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 310 malaria patients drawn from three clinics throughout ASN. Multiple regression and chi-square was used to analyze three main research questions. Results showed that there were strong positive correlations between the local culture and religion and how participants seek malaria treatment. The model was significant for culture and explained 21.7% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .193). The model was also significant for religion, but it only explained 4.5% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .036). The study findings suggest that traditional healers and Western medicine providers should collaborate to alleviate the most severe cases of malaria. Furthermore, the people of ASN should be educated that presenting sick children to health care providers at the soonest possible time can save lives. Traditional healers and biomedical healthcare providers should work together and educate mothers and first responders on the symptoms of malaria and the importance of taking their children to trained healthcare providers for urgent medical attention. The implications for social change include a reduction in morbidity and mortality from malaria among children under age five.