INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL PRACTISES ON THE HEALTH OF YORUBA PEOPLE LIVING IN ILORIN SOUTH LGA, KWARA STATE

This study examined the Influence of Cultural Practices on Yoruba People living in Ilorin South LGA, Kwara State. Relevant literature was reviewed and the areas reviewed include; concept of breast ironing, puerperal bath and nutritional taboos and health effects related to the prevalence of cultural practices were reviewed and appraised. A descriptive research design survey method was used for the study. The population of the study consisted of all Yoruba people living in Kwara State. A multi stage sampling techniques was used for this study. The sample consists of two hundred respondents. A researcher designed questionnaire was used as research instrument for data collection, which was validated by three experts in the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education Department, University of Ilorin and a reliability co-efficient of 0.75r was obtained through test re-test method using Pearson Product Movement Correlation (PPMC). The instrument was administered by the researcher. The three postulated hypotheses were tested using frequency count, percentage and the inferential statistic of chi square at 0.05 alpha level. Findings from the study revealed that: 1. Breast ironing had negative influence on the health of Yoruba people because the calc. X2 value of 532.24 ˃ table X2 value of 16.92 at the degree of freedom df 9 at 0.05 level of significance; 2. Puerperal bath had negative influence on the health of Yoruba people because the calc. X2 value of 259.16 ˃ table X2 value of 16.92 at the degree of freedom df 9 at 0.05 level of significance; 3.Nutritional taboos had negative influence on the health of Yoruba people because the calc. X2 value of 780.24 ˃ table X2 value of 16.92 at the degree of freedom df 9 at 0.05 level of significance; Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, the following recommendations were made; Breast ironing should be abolished as a cultural practice and young girls should be educated on sexual values to avoid premarital sex. Slightly cooler water should be used to bath new mothers and dipping of hand in the water to test it before being used by new mothers. Essential food nutrients should not be restricted for invalid, pregnant and lactating mothers as well as infants. Also equally nutritious food substances should be used to supplement forbidden ones; Individuals and families should put an end to the practice of negative socio-cultural practices and engage healthy lifestyles.