ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 13 (9), pp. 001-013, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of the factors influencing utilization of medicinal plants among Hausa communities in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria
L.N. Sambe1*, P.U Ancha2, M.A. Aondoakaa3, Z. Ali4, Akighirga, A.T5
1,2,3,4Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.
5Department of Forestry and Environmental Technology, Federal Polytechnic Kazaure, Jigawa State.
Abstract
Received May 11, 2024; Revised June 23, 2024; Accepted June 24, 2024 and Published 25 October, 2024
The study was conducted to assess the factors influencing the utilization of medicinal plants among Hausa Communities in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State. The population for the study comprised the Hausa communities. A purposive sampling technique was used to select Hausa residential areas, thus, 120 adults each were sampled in the North Bank and Wadata areas giving a total of 240 respondents. Data for the study was obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire, interview, and personal observation. The study data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale rating, logistic regression models, and Spearman rank correlation. The analysis of the field data shows that most (83.9%) of the respondents utilized medicinal plants to treat ailments. The respondents’ main reasons for utilizing medicinal plants were; the plants' efficacy (46.9%), affordability (20.6%), and availability (20.2%). Correlation analysis between the ages of respondents and utilization of medicinal plants had non-significant positive correlation (rs=0.08, p>0.22), a significant positive correlation between years of schooling and utilization of medicinal plants among the respondents in the study area (rs=0.18, p>0.01) and a non-significant negative correlation between the income of the respondents and utilization of medicinal plants in the study area (rs= -0.08, p>0.10). The result also shows that male and female respondents do not differ significantly (U=5946, P>0.05) in using medicinal plants in the study area. On the extent of utilization of medicinal plants, the result showed a moderate level of utilization of medicinal plants in the study area. The logistic regression analysis shows that age, years of residence, and annual income, had no significant influence (p>0.05) on the utilization of medicinal plants while the educational status of the respondents in terms of years of schooling had a significant positive influence (p<0.05) on utilization of medicinal plants. The most important factor influencing medicinal plant utilization in the study area based on Exp (B) values was education (1.78) followed by age (1.05) years of residence (1.02) and annual income (0.18). Therefore, the conservation of the preferred medicinal tree species should be encouraged by the Government, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private individuals to enhance the sustainability of the resource.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, utilization, factors, influence, Hausa community.