Submission ID 118259
| Issue/Objective | Traditional knowledge of plant-based contraception, grounded in centuries of ethnobotanical practices, represents a valuable yet underutilized resource for advancing reproductive health solutions. This study examines the use of plant-based contraceptives in selected communities, documenting indigenous knowledge systems that provide locally adapted, and culturally relevant approaches to contraception. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | An open-ended questionnaire was used to gain insights into contraceptive practices from the perspectives of traditional providers. Herb sellers and herbal practitioners from four Yoruba-speaking states in Nigeria - Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, and Osun - were interviewed to explore their knowledge and practices. Data from the questionnaires were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Quantitative analysis used the informant consensus factor (ICF) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) indices. |
| Results | Participants were predominantly married female herb sellers aged 31-50, indicating that women, particularly those in middle to older age groups, are the primary custodians of traditional contraceptive knowledge. A total of 31 plant species were recorded across the study areas. Kwara had the highest diversity (20 species), followed by Lagos (16), Oyo (10) and Osun (4). The overall ICF value across the study areas was 0.7, reflecting significant agreement among informants/participants. The most frequently cited species varied by location. Carica papaya had RFC values of 0.58 in Oyo and 0.44 in Osun; Mucuna pruriens recorded 0.30 in Lagos and Jatropha gossypiifolia had 0.27 in Kwara. Most plant species were prepared in combination forms, with seeds and leaves being the most commonly used parts. These remedies were administered as decoctions, powders, or worn as contraceptive rings or waist beads. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This work underscores the important role of women as knowledge holders and agents of change, advocating for their inclusion in global health conversations and research agendas. By capturing and analyzing traditional contraceptives knowledge through ethnobotanical surveys and qualitative methods, the research highlights how these practices serve as innovative, culturally aligned responses to the gaps in modern reproductive healthcare-particularly in contexts where biomedical options are limited, stigmatized, or misaligned with local realities. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Mutiat Ibrahim University of Lagos, Nigeria Akinniyi Odewo Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria Bilqis Lawal University of Ilorin Noimot Balogun University of Lagos, Nigeria Wakilat Tijani Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Margaret Ilomuanya University of Lagos, Nigeria Oluseye Oyedeji Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria |
