Integrating Traditional Medicine Practices Into Occupational Health Care for Workers in Rural Nigeria: A Community-Based Ethnographic Study

Traditional medicine (TM) use for work-related health conditions is prevalent among rural Nigerian workers, yet the intersection of traditional healing practices and occupational health management has received no systematic scholarly attention. This doctoral community-based ethnographic study investigated the role, content, and health implications of traditional medicine use in the management of occupational health conditions among workers in rural farming, artisan, and mining communities in Cross River, Taraba, and Kebbi States, representing South South, North East, and North West Nigeria respectively. An ethnographic methodology employing participant observation across 18 communities (nine months of fieldwork), 80 in-depth interviews with workers and traditional healers, and 24 focus group discussions was combined with clinical assessment of TM-treated occupational conditions in a subset of 200 workers. TM was the first-line response to occupational conditions in 78.4 percent of cases, with formal healthcare accessed only when TM failed. Traditional remedies for musculoskeletal pain, respiratory symptoms, and chemical burns were documented, with some herbal preparations demonstrating pharmacological plausibility and others showing evidence of secondary nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity on clinical assessment. Complex negotiation of treatment legitimacy occurred at the TM-formal healthcare interface, with deep cultural epistemological dimensions. The study produces an original ethnographic account of occupational TM use and a critical integration framework. Recommendations include TM practitioner engagement in occupational health community programs, safety assessment of widely used TM preparations, and culturally humble occupational health training for formal practitioners. Keywords: traditional medicine, occupational health, ethnography, rural communities, Nigeria.