Abstract:

Analysis revealed that traditional medical practice in the study area was male-dominated and majority of the traditional medical practitioners seek information from informal sources mostly from colleagues within the same professional association. Knowledge of traditional medical practice was revealed to be orally preserved and transmitted by word of mouth from generation to generation and the level of integration with orthodox medicine was found to be very low. The low level of education of the traditional medical practitioners denied them access to knowledge that could improve and make their services in the treatment/management of sickle cell anemia more relevant to the Nigerian society. It is recommended that proper regulation, standardization and increased involvement of government organs in the field of traditional medicine should be ensured. There is a need to bring the traditional medical practitioners into the mainstream by providing them with proper training, facilities and back-up for referral.