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Biomedical subjects

F Togonu-Bickersteth

Publications and source records attributed to F Togonu-Bickersteth.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Prospects and challenges of educating deaf pupils in Nigeria: teachers' perceptions.

Structured interviews with 40 teachers of deaf primary school pupils and a matched control group of 40 other teachers examined their respective perceptions of the problems and prospects of educating deaf pupils in Nigeria. The greatest challenge identified by the teachers was society's weak acceptance of the legitimacy of deaf education and the greatest prospect was the high achievement motivation of deaf pupils.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Concepts and management of deafness in the Yoruba medical system: a case study of traditional healers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

This paper examines the concept and management of deafness among 98 randomly selected healers in Ile-Ife. We are concerned with deafness because in an earlier study mothers of deaf children reported that they had consulted these practitioners. All of the healers distinguished congenital and non-congenital deafness, and in their efforts to cure patients they were guided by experience and specialist knowledge. A higher proportion of the herbalists associated congenital deafness with natural causes than did the other type of healers. The babalawos and indigenous faith healers who mentioned a natural cause of congenital deafness believed that the primary causative agents were supernatural. Half of the indigenous faith healers and more than half of the babalawos we interviewed attributed non-congenital deafness to malevolent forces, while only 12.5% of the herbalists made this attribution. Treatment procedures and preventive techniques were based on conceptions of causality. While the majority of the herbalists prescribed a herbal ear drop, a majority of the babalawos and the indigenous faith healers prescribed sacrifices to appease the aggrieved parties. Some interesting points that emanated from the study include the healers' explanation that a person's essence is transmitted to his personal effects, which are used with incantation to inflict the deaf person. Closely associated with this is the healers' warning that patients need to maintain good-neighbourliness to avoid further harm. The paper further highlights the adherence to pregnancy taboos to avoid congenital deafness.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Age identification among Yoruba aged.

This study examined the influence of chronological age, number of grandchildren, and life satisfaction on age identification of elderly Yoruba residents in Ile-Ife. The sample consisted of 440 randomly selected noninstitutionalized persons, age 55 and older. Data were gathered through structured interviews. The results revealed (a) a strong positive relationship between chronological age and age identification, (b) a weak but significant relationship between number of grandchildren and age identification, although this relationship disappears when chronological age is controlled, and (c) no significant relationship between age identification and life satisfaction. Differences between these findings and those reported for Western samples reflect cultural differences between Yoruba and Western societies.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Influence of Yoruba beliefs about abnormality on the socialization of deaf children: a research note.

The study examines patterns of communication modes of guidance and discipline and affectional bonds between 176 Yoruba hearing mothers and their deaf children. Results relating to communication support earlier findings about the frustrations inherent in such endeavour. Contrary to other published reports, the Yoruba mothers studied perceived expressive linguistic abilities of deaf children more negatively than receptive abilities. Communication difficulties affected mothers' guidance and discipline, particularly since the culturally preferred modes of discipline rely very heavily on children's age-related language competence. Mothers' verbal claims of affectional bonds were not supported by evidence from other sources close to and including the deaf children.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knowledge about aging and perception of the old by Nigerian nurses.

Interviews of 168 Nigerian nurses were made to determine their knowledge about aging, their perceptions of old people and their opinions regarding geriatric medicine in Nigeria. Data analyses reveal that nurses have positive perceptions of old people, appear knowledgeable about medical aspects of aging and not so knowledgeable about mental health problems of the old. Constraints to geriatric practice were seen in the personal characteristics of the old, the youth-oriented medical set-up and the socio-cultural values which discourage the old from seeking care. Discussions focus on the implications of the findings for health care delivery to the old.

Adult↗