Contributions of indigenous education to health practices: a case of Bukusu Community of Bungoma county, Kenya

Abstract

Health problems as a result of changes in health practices of the people and changes in the environment have been and are an issue of concern. While numerous efforts have been undertaken to curb these health problems, little attention has been given to the role which Indigenous education can play in fostering health practices. This has led to gradual abandonment and even extinction of some of the traditional health practices which have been shown to have promoted health. This study was therefore aimed at establishing how indigenous education promoted and propagated some of the health practices in order to maintain the well-being of the society taking the Bukusu Community of Bungoma County of Kenya as a case. The Bukusu occupy majorly Bungoma County in which the study was based. The study was guided by the medical ecology theory and the general systems theory. An ethno-historical approach was employed in the research design, instrumentation, data collection, analysis and interpretation. Validity of the instruments was attained through formulation of the items as per the research objectives while external and internal criticism was used to attain reliability of the study. The historical inquiry progressed in three major phases namely collection of oral evidence through field work, research into secondary materials in libraries and collection of archival data through archival research. Non Participant observation was also carried out throughout the three phases. To achieve systematic collection of data, purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. The population of the study was about nine hundred thousand Bukusu individuals of Bungoma County. The research sample comprised of forty two elderly persons including both men and women who were interviewed and the data collected was analysed qualitatively through triangulation and deduction of themes. It was found out that indigenous education through its content and methodology promotes observance and propagation of health practices that includes wellness promotion, proper nutrition and traditional herbal medication. These contributions make indigenous education to be still relevant to the contemporary society because they correlate to current health promotion efforts. Results obtained from this study may be useful in informing the contemporary society on the valuable health practices that are at the verge of extinction and this can provide a contribution towards the current health promotion efforts.