African Cultural Practices and Health Implications for Nigeria Rural Development

frican societies and cultural practices over these years had commanded global attention as it concern health conditions of the people. The paper looks at some of these practices (positive and negative) and showcases how these cultural heritages in attitudes and behaviors affect the overall progress of the people and society from the Nigerian perspective. The paper which qualitatively x-rays the African societal practices reveals that some of these practices are negatively affecting the lives of women and children and that cultural change and continuities in various angles will go a long way through enculturation to ensure that some of these negative practices are destroyed and new positive ones are enhanced. The paper concludes illnesses/diseases like malaria, typhoid, HIV/AIDS, cultural practices carried on by Africans makes the whole efforts a child’s play.