CULTURE AND RESPONSES TOWARD DISEASES AND WELLNESS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN AMANSEA COMMUNITY OF AWKA NORTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Culture has been found to significantly influence how people perceive health and respond to illness, shaping their choices between traditional remedies and modern medical treatments. For the elderly, these cultural beliefs play a crucial role in health outcomes and access to care. Thus, understanding and addressing these cultural factors is relevant to promoting positive health behaviors and improving wellness in diverse communities. Thus, this study investigated culture and responses toward diseases and wellness among the elderly in Amansea community of Awka North LGA, Anambra State. Three research questions and one hypothesis guided the study, while social constructionism theory constituted the theoretical framework. The design for the study was mixed methods research design. A sample of 204 respondents was drawn from the population of the study. The questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were the instruments used for data collection and we're administered on a face-to-face basis by the researcher with the aid of two research assistants. Quantitative data for the study were processed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables, simple percentages and graphic illustrations were used to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used for analyzing the qualitative data. The study hypothesis was tested with chi-square inferential statistics. The study found that the most prevalent cultural orientation pertaining to disease and wellness is modern medical orientation. The study also found that culture positively affect the response of both the elderly and younger persons of Amansea towards disease and wellness issues, hence the culture of Amansea supports modern medicine and visit to clinics for treatment. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that stakeholders in Amansea community should regularly review existing cultural practices related to health and illness behaviour as this will ensure that outdated or non beneficial norms and practices are eliminated.