Paper short abstract:

Studies on Traditional Orthopaedic Healthcare (TOH) have accorded scanty attention to the commodification of TOH, and its gendered context of practice in rural sub-saharan Africa. Guided by political economy, this study filled the gap by addressing the foregoing vis-à-vis sustainability imperatives.

Paper long abstract:

Traditional Orthopaedic Healthcare (TOH) is an altruistic, family-based and male-dominated practice that provides more than 70% of treatment for Musculo-skeletal conditions in rural sub-saharan Africa. Extant studies have focused on belief systems, cultural, social and political economy factors, in the persistent utilization of TOH - despite advances in biomedical sciences. There is paucity of knowledge on the commodification of TOH as a socio-economic activity – contrary to its traditionally altruistic orientation. Similarly, the gendered context of TOH, the role of women, and unequal reward systems have received little scholarly attention. Using the qualitative research approach, and guided by the political economy perspective, this study filled the observed gap by interrogating the commodification of TOH vis-à-vis the gendered nature of its reward system, focusing on the socio-cultural context of the Nupe of Nigeria. Data was collected in 12 communities, using Life Histories (4 women members of practitioner families, aged 60 and above), Key Informant Interviews (5 leaders of TOH practice communities), In-depth Interviews (5 male heads of TOH practice families), and Focus Group Discussions (4 groups of 7-9 women, aged 18-59, who are TOH practitioners). The study revealed that commodification conflicts with traditional tenets of TOH practice, while undermining quality service, widening existing reward gaps between rural men and women, and threatening environmental sustainability. Government and relevant stakeholders need to pay greater attention to TOH and traditional medicine generally – with proper recourse to gender and environment, as important components of the SDGs, and WHO’s “Health for All”.