Ethno-religious Beliefs and Patients’ Healthcare-seeking Behavior in Nigeria
Samuel Chukwudi Agunyai 
, Victor Ojakorotu & Kedibone Phago
Issue: Vol.6 No.6 Article 9 pp. 769 – 791
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025669 | Published online 13th May, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This paper examined how ethnic cleavages stimulate the medical choices and decisions of patients in Nigeria. Indeed, how ethno-religious beliefs, push patients into adhering too much to religious faith and doctrines instead of seeking medical help is hardly examined in Nigeria. This gap invariably constitutes not only a high mortality rate but large-scale human insecurity in terms of loss of lives in the country. Drawing on structural-functionalism theory and qualitative methods that were sourced through observations, interviews, and document analysis, this article examined the connection between ethno-religious beliefs and the healthcare choices or behavior of patients. The findings showed that the high level of insecurity in Nigeria includes patients who risk their lives over religious-based healthcare decisions or seeking behavior. The findings also expand the discussion on the dynamics of the influence of ethno-religious sentiments among patients in Nigeria’s tertiary health institutions. It further expands knowledge on how the Nigerian government can mitigate reliance on ethno-religious beliefs in ways to promote human security, including that of patients in hospitals.
Keywords: Beliefs, Corruption, Ethnic, Healthcare, Religious
Achumba, I C, O S Ighomereho, and M O M Akpor-Robaro. “Security Challenges in Nigeria and the Implications for Business Activities and Sustainable Development.” Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development 4, no. 2 (2013).
Agunyai, S. C. “ Emerging Governance Crises in Twenty-First Century Nigeria.” In Africa Now: Emerging Issues and Alternative Perspective, edited by A. Adebusuyi and K. Ikuteijo. Springer, 2018.
Agunyai, S C, and V Ojakorotu Governance Failure. “Formation of Anti-State Organizations: The Impact of the Amnesty Policy on the Development of Nigeria’s Niger-Delta.” Nigeria. African 10, no. 2 (2021).
Akinbajo, I. “The Massive MDG Fraud: How the Health Ministry Steals from the Sick and Dying.” Premium Times 20 (2012).
Akokuwebe, M E. “Healthy Women, Healthy World”: A Theoretical Discourse of General Health Status of Women in Nigeria.” West Afr J Archaeol (Revue Quest Afr Archeol) 46 (2016): 87–111.
Akokuwebe, Monica Ewomazino, and Damilare Michael Adekanbi. “Corruption in the Health Sector and Implications for Service Delivery in Oyo State Public Hospitals.” Ilorin Journal of Sociology 9, no. 1 (2017): 200–217.
Akokuwebe, Monica Ewomazino, and Erhabor Sunday Idemudia. “Fraud within the Nigerian Health System, a Double Threat for Resilience of a Health System and the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review.” Pan African Medical Journal. African Field Epidemiology Network, May 1, 2023. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2023.45.116.36979.
Akunyili, D. “Counterfeit Medicines: A Serious Crime against Humanity.” Presentation to the European Parliament by Professor Dora Akunyili, Director …, 2007.
Al-Mujtaba, Maryam, Llewellyn J. Cornelius, Hadiza Galadanci, Salome Erekaha, Joshua N. Okundaye, Olusegun A. Adeyemi, and Nadia A. Sam-Agudu. “Evaluating Religious Influences on the Utilization of Maternal Health Services among Muslim and Christian Women in North-Central Nigeria.” BioMed Research International 2016 (2016): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3645415.
Amanze, James N. “The Role of Prophecy in the Growth and Expansion of the Synagogue Church of All Nations.” Scriptura: Journal for Contextual Hermeneutics in Southern Africa 112, no. 1 (2013): 1–14.
Awofeso, Olu, and Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi. “The Impact of Political Leadership and Corruption on Nigeria’s Development since Independence.” Journal of Sustainable Development 7, no. 5 (2014): 240–53.
Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi, Francis Ifeanyi Ayomoh, Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade Abejirinde, Oluwasola Banke-Thomas, Ejemai Amaize Eboreime, and Charles Anawo Ameh. “Cost of Utilising Maternal Health Services in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.” International Journal of Health Policy and Management 10, no. 9 (2020): 564.
Blazer, D G. “The Empirical Study of Religion/Spirituality and Psychiatric Disorders: Implications for Clinical Practice.” Spirituality and Religion within the Culture of Medicine: From Evidence to …, 2017.
Chiswick, Barry R, and Paul W Miller. “International Migration and the Economics of Language.” In Handbook of the Economics of International Migration, 1:211–69. Elsevier, 2015.
Crape, B, A Demirchyan, R Grigoryan, H Martirosyan, V Petrosyan, and N Truzyan. “Evaluation of the Child Health State Certificate Program.” Center for Health Services Research and Development, American University of Armenia. Yerevan, Armenia, 2011.
Deininger, Klaus, and Paul Mpuga. “Does Greater Accountability Improve the Quality of Public Service Delivery? Evidence from Uganda.” World Development 33, no. 1 (2005): 171–91.
Diara, Benjamin C D, and Nkechinyere G Onah. “The Phenomenal Growth of Pentecostalism in the Contemporary Nigerian Society: A Challenge to Mainline Churches.” Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 5, no. 6 (2014): 395–402.
Doctor, Henry V, Sally E. Findley, Alastair Ager, Giorgio Cometto, Godwin Y Afenyadu, Fatima Adamu, and Cathy Green. “Using Community-Based Research to Shape the Design and Delivery of Maternal Health Services in Northern Nigeria.” Reproductive Health Matters 20, no. 39 (January 9, 2012): 104–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(12)39615-8.
Dunamis Blog. “Touching Story of How Prophet Abodunrin Daniel Was Killed and Eaten by Lions at the Ibadan Zoo. ,” 2017. http://www.dunamisblog.com/touching_story_of_how_prophet_abodunrin_daniel_was_killed_andeaten_.
Durkheim, Emile. The Rules of Sociological Method. Beverly Hills, CA : Sage Publications, Inc., 1895.
Fadeyi, A O, and T A Oduwole. “Effect of Religion on Reproductive Health Issues in Nigeria.” International Journal of Innovative Healthcare Research 4, no. 1 (2016): 17–33.
Fagbamigbe, Adeniyi Francis, and Erhabor Sunday Idemudia. “Barriers to Antenatal Care Use in Nigeria: Evidences from Non-Users and Implications for Maternal Health Programming.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 15, no. 1 (December 17, 2015): 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0527-y.
Farrell, Margaret, Adeline Masquelier, Emily Tissot, and Jane Bertrand. “Islam, Polygyny and Modern Contraceptive Use in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa.” African Population Studies 28, no. 3 (2014): 1389–98.
Ganle, John Kuumuori. “Why Muslim Women in Northern Ghana Do Not Use Skilled Maternal Healthcare Services at Health Facilities: A Qualitative Study.” BMC International Health and Human Rights 15, no. 1 (December 28, 2015): 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12914-015-0048-9.
Gorter, A C, and B Bellows. “Do Competitive Voucher Schemes Improve the Provision of Health Care to Underserved and/or Vulnerable Population Groups.” Experiences from Nicaragua, India and Africa, 2008.
Hall, Daniel E., Keith G. Meador, and Harold G. Koenig. “Measuring Religiousness in Health Research: Review and Critique.” Journal of Religion and Health 47, no. 2 (June 6, 2008): 134–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9165-2.
Hordern, Joshua. “Accommodating Religion and Belief in Healthcare: Political Threats, Agonistic Democracy and Established Religion.” Bioethics 37, no. 1 (January 18, 2023): 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13112.
Hussen, Sophia Ahmed, Mulugeta Tsegaye, Meron Gurji Argaw, Karen Andes, Danielle Gilliard, and Carlos del Rio. “Spirituality, Social Capital and Service: Factors Promoting Resilience among Expert Patients Living with HIV in Ethiopia.” Global Public Health 9, no. 3 (March 16, 2014): 286–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2014.880501.
Hussmann, Karen. “Vulnerabilities to Corruption in the Health Sector: Perspectives from Latin American Sub-Systems for the Poor (with a Special Focus on the Sub-National Level).” Panama: UNDP Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2011.
Jaiyesimi, Rotimi. “Corruption in Health Sector.” The Nation, 2015. https://thenationonlineng.net/corruption-in-health-sector/.
Johnson, John M. “5 In-Depth Interviewing.” In Handbook of Interview Research, 103–19. SAGE Publications, Inc., 2001.
Kamorudeen, Adegboyega, and S A Bidemi. “Corruption in the Nigerian Public Health Care Delivery System.” Sokoto Journal of the Social Sciences 2, no. 2 (2012): 98–114.
Kohler, Jillian Clare, and Tom Wright. “The Urgent Need for Transparent and Accountable Procurement of Medicine and Medical Supplies in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice 13, no. 1 (December 11, 2020): 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00256-w.
Kress, Daniel H, Yanfang Su, and Hong Wang. “Assessment of Primary Health Care System Performance in Nigeria: Using the Primary Health Care Performance Indicator Conceptual Framework.” Health Systems & Reform 2, no. 4 (2016): 302–18.
Levin, Jeff. “Partnerships between the Faith-Based and Medical Sectors: Implications for Preventive Medicine and Public Health.” Preventive Medicine Reports 4 (2016): 344–50.
Lewis, M. “Tackling Healthcare Corruption and Governance Woes in Developing Countries.” Washington, DC, 2006.
MacKay, D.B. “Ethnicity.” In Guide to the Study of Religion, edited by W. Braun and R.T. McCutcheon, 96–109. London: Cassell, 2000.
Maguranyanga, B. “Apostolic Religion, Health and Utilization of Maternal and Child Health Services in Zimbabwe.” Harare, Zimbabwe, 2011.
Maman, Suzanne, Dhayendre Moodley, Heathe Luz McNaughton-Reyes, Allison K. Groves, Ashraf Kagee, and Prashini Moodley. “Efficacy of Enhanced HIV Counseling for Risk Reduction during Pregnancy and in the Postpartum Period: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” PLoS ONE 9, no. 5 (May 13, 2014): e97092. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097092.
Mothelesi, Glender Amantle, Agunyai Samuel Chukwudi, and Phemelo O Marumo. “Prison Administration and Human Insecurity in Nigeria.” Gender and Behaviour 17, no. 1 (2019): 12352–66.
Muhibbu-Din, M. O. “ Human Security in Developing Regions: Critical Perspectives of Health Security in Nigeria.” Journal of Human Sciences 5, no. 17/4 (2020): 1054–68.
Newbrander, William, Paul Ickx, Ferozuddin Feroz, and Hedayatullah Stanekzai. “Afghanistan’s Basic Package of Health Services: Its Development and Effects on Rebuilding the Health System.” Global Public Health 9, no. sup1 (July 21, 2014): S6–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2014.916735.
Nwaodu, N. “Corruption: Development Crises and Political Instability in Nigeria.” Owerri, Mega Atlas Ltd, 2012.
Odeyemi, Temitayo Isaac, and A Sat Obiyan. “Digital Policing Technologies and Democratic Policing: Will the Internet, Social Media and Mobile Phone Enhance Police Accountability and Police–Citizen Relations in Nigeria?” International Journal of Police Science & Management 20, no. 2 (2018): 97–108.
Ogunleye, A. R. “ Elimination by Substitution: Christ Apostolic Church and Indigenous Faith Interplay in Nigeria.” European Scientific Journal 9, no. 11 (2013): 181–89.
Oluwabamide, A. J. “Health Sector and the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government in Nigeria.” Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 5, no. 10 (2014): 580–86.
Ossai, Emmanuel Chiwetalu. “The Social Dynamics of Peaceful Christian–Muslim Relations in Nigeria.” Religion Compass 18, no. 9 (September 4, 2024). https://doi.org/10.1111/rec3.70001.
Ouma, S., and M. E. Herselman. “ E-Health in Rural Areas: Case of Developing Countries.” International Journal of Biological and Life Sciences 4, no. 4 (2008): 194–200.
Ovienloba, A. A. The Weeping Child. New York: Primus International Network for Education and Developments, 2007.
Owumi, B., S. O. Raji, and T. K. Aliyu. “ Religious Beliefs and the Utilization of Traditional Medicine among Members of Pentecostal Churches in Emurin, Ogun State, Nigeria.” African Journal of Social Sciences 3, no. 4 (2013): 23–24.
Oyejide, T. A. “Corruption and Development: A Nigerian Perspective.” In Paper Presented at ICAN 38th Annual Accountants Conference Held at Abuja, 14th October., 2008.
Parsons, Talcott. The Structure of Social Action. New York: McGraw Hill, 1937.
Pew Research Center. “Christians Remain World’s Largest Religious Group, but They Are Declining in Europe,” 2017. http://www.pewresearch.org/facttalk/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religiousgroup-but-they-are-declining-in-europe.
Philip, Dahida D, and O M Akangbe. “Corruption as a Bane for Under-Development in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges.” International Affairs and Global Strategy 15 (2013): 76–84.
Remien, Robert H, Jenifar Chowdhury, Jacques E Mokhbat, Cherif Soliman, Maha El Adawy, and Wafaa El-Sadr. “Gender and Care: Access to HIV Testing, Care, and Treatment.” JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 51, no. Supplement 3 (July 2009): S106–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181aafd66.
Rumun, A. J. “ Influence of Religious Beliefs on the Healthcare Practices.” International Journal of Education and Research 2, no. 4 (2014): 37–48.
Sibley, Jim R. “Has the Church Put Israel on the Shelf? The Evidence from Romans 11: 15.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 58, no. 3 (2015): 571.
Solanke, B. L., O. A. Oladosu, A. Akinlo, and S. O. Olanisebe. “ Religion as a Social Determinant of Maternal Health Care Service Utilisation in Nigeria.” African Population Studies 29, no. 2 (2015): 1868–81.
Spencer, H. The Principles of Sociology. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1938.
Ugwu, Nnanna U., and Bregje de Kok. “Socio-Cultural Factors, Gender Roles and Religious Ideologies Contributing to Caesarian-Section Refusal in Nigeria.” Reproductive Health 12, no. 1 (December 12, 2015): 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-015-0050-7.
United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. “ What Is Human Security?,” 2018. https://www.un.org/humansecurity/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/What-is-Human-Security.pdf.
Vanderweele, T. J. “Religion and Health: A Synthesis.” In Spirituality and Religion within the Culture of Medicine: From Evidence to Practice, edited by J.R. Peteet and M.J. Balboni. New York, NY: : Oxford University Press, 2016.
Vian, T., W. D. Savedoff, and H. Mathisen. Anticorruption in the Health Sector: Strategies for Transparency and Accountability. Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press, 2010.
Vian, Taryn. “Implementing a Transparency and Accountability Policy to Reduce Corruption: The GAVI Alliance in Cameroon.” U4 Brief 2013, no. 9 (2013).
Walelign, D., A. Mekonen, M. Netsere, and M. Tarekegn. “Modern Contraceptive Use among Orthodox Christian and Muslim Women of Reproductive Age Groups in Bahir Dar City, North West Ethiopia: Comparative Cross Sectional Study.” Open Journal of Epidemiology 4 (2014): 235–42.
World Bank. “ The Fight against Corruption: A World Bank Perspective.” Workshop on Transparency and Governance, Organized as Part of the Consultative Group Meeting for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America, May 25-28. Stockholm, Sweden, 1999.
Yagboyaju, Dhikru Adewale. “Corruption, Democracy and Good Governance.” Democracy and Democratic Practise in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects, 2011, 142–54.
Yankins, W. “Counterfeit Drugs: Coming to a Pharmacy near You.” American Council on Science and Health, 2006. www.acsh.org/publications/pubID.1379/pub_detail.asp.
Agunyai Samuel Chukwudi is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Political Studies and International Relations, North West University, Mafikeng, South Africa. He teaches political science at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His primary areas of research interests include African politics and government, food security, human security, political theory, migration studies, and governance in comparative sub-Saharan African contexts. Specifically, he specializes in African governance and development as well as leadership questions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Victor Ojakorotu is a scholar of International Relations and an Astute Professor at the North West University, South Africa. He is also an Honorary Professor at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) South Africa. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. A First Class Honours graduate (BSc) from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in International Relations and an MSc. Degree in the same school. He has actively worked in various capacities as an academic of repute in the last 28 years, specifically, he worked for Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and Monash University, Johannesburg. Currently, he holds a position as Deputy Director, at the School of Government Studies, North-West University, Mafikeng – South Africa and was recently appointed as an Honorary Professor at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) South Africa. His research interests span several areas which are not limited to peace and conflict issues, social movements, environmentalism, peace advocacy and inter-ethnic harmony in local communities in Africa.
Kedibone Phago is a professor and director of the School of Government Studies at North West University, South Africa. He teaches public administration and governance at North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. His research interests include economic growth, political science, public housing, developing countries, public policy, and developed countries.
Agunyai, Samuel Chukwudi, Victor Ojakorotu and Kedibone Phago . “Ethno-religious Beliefs and Patients’ Healthcare-seeking Behavior in Nigeria,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no.6 (2025): 769-791. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025669
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
