Effect of Orthodox and Traditional Health Promotion on Health Decisions of Residents of Offa, Kwara State

Abstract

This study examined how Orthodox Health Promotion (OHP) and Traditional Health Promotion (THP) messages shape the health decisions of residents in Offa, Kwara State. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework, the study explored how exposure to modern, evidence-based health messages and culturally rooted traditional health messages influenced individual choices about seeking medical care. A quantitative survey design was adopted, allowing systematic measurement of residents' exposure to both types of health messages and the resulting health decision patterns. Results showed that both OHP and THP significantly influenced health decisions, though OHP had a stronger effect. Simple linear regression revealed that OHP explained 99.5% of the variance in health decisions (R² = .995, β = .997, p = .001), while THP accounted for 97.5% (R² = .975, β = .987, p = .001). A combined multiple regression model showed that both predictors together explained 99.8% of the variance (R² = .998, p = .001), with OHP (β = .731) exerting greater influence than THP (β = .272). The study concluded that both forms of health promotion play complementary and significant roles in shaping the health-seeking behaviours of Offa residents. It highlights the importance of combining evidence-based health communication with culturally relevant traditional practices to improve public health outcomes. The very high R² values suggest possible measurement limitations or response bias; future research should therefore use more diverse sampling methods and examine moderating variables. Studies should also investigate the long-term impact of health promotion messages on actual health outcomes beyond decision-making.