Medical Anthropology in Nigeria

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In this research Dr. Etkin will conduct a follow up study in a rural Hausa village in Nigeria. As a medical anthropologist, Dr. Etkin is interested in the relationship between culture and disease and she will determine how these have changed in the last ten years. Over this decade, several things have happened. The establishment of a local government clinic has facilitated access to Western medical care. Secondly, over this same span of time the Hausa community has become increasingly integrated into the national economy. Finally local agricultural development projects have not only affected diet but also the environment and the availability of local wild plant resources. Traditionally the Hausa incorporated these resources into their diet and believed they had medicinal properties, including the ability to prevent malaria, which is endemic to this region. During a year of planned fieldwork, Dr. Etkin will interview residents and focus on continuity and change in use of indigenous medicines. She will conduct field surveys to document available plant resources. A dietary survey will also be administered in conjunction with a broad-based questionnaire on food availability, selection and preparation. Clinic records will be examined and malaria screening conducted in conjunction with clinic personnel. Dr. Etkin will also collect plants to be tested for potential anti-malarial activity in a second laboratory phase of the project. This research is important because it examines how human health is influenced by the complex interrelationships among such biological and cultural variables as infectious disease, indigenous and Western medicines, diet and agriculture. The United States provides aid to third world countries to improve physical health and this research will contribute to its effective use.