Ancient Medicine in Modern Times: Exploring Traditional Medicine Usage for Childhood Illnesses in Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Background: The World Health Organization estimates that over 80% of people in developing regions of Africa and Asia rely primarily on traditional medicine for their healthcare needs. Despite the World Health Organization's warnings about potential risks, especially among children, traditional medicine remains widely used, often without adequate scientific scrutiny. This study explored the practices and perceptions of mothers of children aged 0–5 years in Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, regarding the use of traditional medicine.Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 mothers of children under five years of age to collect qualitative data on their experiences using traditional medicine for childhood illnesses. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic data via the SPSS statistics, while qualitative responses were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically.Results: Fever and jedi-jedi emerged as the most common childhood ailments treated with traditional medicine. Key drivers of traditional medicine use included perceived effectiveness, affordability, availability, and cultural familiarity. Remedies were administered in various forms: liquid, solid, powder, and oil through oral, anal or topical routes depending on the condition being treated. Conclusion: Most respondents felt confident in the safety and efficacy of traditional medicines for young children, with minimal concern about side effects. These findings highlight the need to better understand the persistent reliance on traditional medicine in paediatric care and call for further research to ensure its safe and informed integration into healthcare systems.