TITLE:
Health-seeking behavior of migrant beggars in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Kabiru K. Salami, Aishat O. Olugbayo
KEYWORDS:
Begging; Health-Seeking Behavior; Migrant Beggar; Migration; Nigeria; Treatment
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.4,
April
24,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Most studies on
beggars in Nigeria have focused exclusively on the social course of indigenous
begging activities in Nigerian cities. There exists dearth of knowledge about international
migrant beggars and their health-seeking behavior
in Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria. A cross sectional survey data were collected through purposive sampling technique among
a total of 250 international migrant beggars in six locations in Ibadan. Results showed that 56% of respondents were female,
few had formal education, 85.6% were married, and 94.8% were Muslim. Respondents migrated from Niger (83.6%), Chad
(11.2%), Mali (4.0%) and Benin (1.2%). None
had a legal residence permit. Respondents’
mean residence duration in Nigeria was 8.5 years. Malaria was common to beggars both in their home
country and in Nigeria. Treatment was received
from patent medicine vendors by 51.2% respondents. Advice for appropriate treatment for illness was
received from family members by 44.4% migrant beggars. Sex and country of beggars have a direct relationship
with the treatment seeking (P Financial
and legal status of migrant beggars dynamically limited their healthcare
choices. Routine health education on
hygiene practice and appropriate treatment-seeking should be taken to beggars
at their different locations by health
workers as means of prevention of the spread of diseases.