Spatial analysis of traditional medicine utilization and its influence on post covid-19 healthcare choices in Nigeria

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced healthcare seeking behaviour across Nigeria, leading to renewed interest in traditional medicine as both a preventive and therapeutic option. During the pandemic, many households relied on herbal remedies and indigenous healthcare practitioners because these services were readily available, affordable, and deeply rooted in local cultural practices, especially when conventional healthcare systems were under considerable pressure. This study examines how the pandemic has reshaped the role of traditional medicine in post COVID-19 healthcare choices in Nigeria. Adopting a descriptive survey design complemented by geographic information system techniques, the study analysed responses from three hundred and eighty respondents drawn from urban and rural communities across the North Central, South West, and South East geopolitical zones, and applied spatial analytical methods including hot spot analysis, Local Moran's I, and kernel density estimation. The results indicate that although traditional medicine demonstrated resilience and remained culturally relevant throughout the pandemic, important challenges relating to safety, quality assurance, standardization, and limited clinical validation persist. More than half of respondents reported using traditional medicine both during and after the pandemic, and affordability, accessibility, and cultural beliefs emerged as the strongest determinants of continued use. The spatial analyses revealed that utilisation is not randomly distributed but forms statistically significant clusters shaped by demographic, socio economic, cultural, and geographic factors. The paper argues that the long term contribution of traditional medicine to healthcare delivery will depend on stronger scientific research, improved regulatory oversight, and closer collaboration between traditional practitioners and the formal healthcare system