Background: This study focuses on divination and health-seeking behavior among the Dagomba in Ghana's Northern Region. Many research show that socio-demographic characteristics play an important effect on health-seeking practice through the use of divination. This study describes the use of divination and experiences in resolving health-related difficulties. The purpose of this study is to describe how demographic characteristics are used to influence the practice of divination. The aim of the study is to describe the function of divination in the treatment of ailments among the Dagomba. The study was guided by social constructivist theory. A total of 400 respondents were randomly and systematically sampled. 8 popular diviners and 5 custodians were also selected for the study. Methodolog: Questionnaires were utilized to collect data from 400 respondents aged 18-60+. The data gathered covers socio-demographic factors as well as their replies about how and why people seek diviner services during times of illness. Observation was equally employed to elicit additional information to supplement the data collected. Cross sectional study design was used for this studyData was evaluated using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and tabulations are used to investigate the link between demographic characteristics and dependent variables. (Whether or not the participants employ divination during times of illness). The descriptive statistics was used to investigate the effects of socio-demographic variables on whether a respondent used divination in times of illness. Results: Level of education, age, gender, number of wives, number of children, and marital status are all major markers of divination use during times of illness in the research area. Conclusion: Those with polygynous marriages, advanced age, no formal education, limited formal education, number of wives, and number of children are more prone to visit diviners in times of illness.
| Published in | International Journal of Education, Culture and Society (Volume 10, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18 |
| Page(s) | 210-223 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Divination, Soothsayer, Supernatural, Dorikpema, Bagyuya, Research Setting, Research Design
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APA Style
Salifu, A. (2025). Consultation of Diviners for Well-Being: The Role of Socio- Demographic Attributes and Utilization of Divination for Health- Seeking Practices Among the Dagomba in Northern Ghana. International Journal of Education, Culture and Society, 10(4), 210-223. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18
ACS Style
Salifu, A. Consultation of Diviners for Well-Being: The Role of Socio- Demographic Attributes and Utilization of Divination for Health- Seeking Practices Among the Dagomba in Northern Ghana. Int. J. Educ. Cult. Soc. 2025, 10(4), 210-223. doi: 10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18,
author = {Abukari Salifu},
title = {Consultation of Diviners for Well-Being: The Role of Socio- Demographic Attributes and Utilization of Divination for Health- Seeking Practices Among the Dagomba in Northern Ghana
},
journal = {International Journal of Education, Culture and Society},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {210-223},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijecs.20251004.18},
abstract = {Background: This study focuses on divination and health-seeking behavior among the Dagomba in Ghana's Northern Region. Many research show that socio-demographic characteristics play an important effect on health-seeking practice through the use of divination. This study describes the use of divination and experiences in resolving health-related difficulties. The purpose of this study is to describe how demographic characteristics are used to influence the practice of divination. The aim of the study is to describe the function of divination in the treatment of ailments among the Dagomba. The study was guided by social constructivist theory. A total of 400 respondents were randomly and systematically sampled. 8 popular diviners and 5 custodians were also selected for the study. Methodolog: Questionnaires were utilized to collect data from 400 respondents aged 18-60+. The data gathered covers socio-demographic factors as well as their replies about how and why people seek diviner services during times of illness. Observation was equally employed to elicit additional information to supplement the data collected. Cross sectional study design was used for this studyData was evaluated using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and tabulations are used to investigate the link between demographic characteristics and dependent variables. (Whether or not the participants employ divination during times of illness). The descriptive statistics was used to investigate the effects of socio-demographic variables on whether a respondent used divination in times of illness. Results: Level of education, age, gender, number of wives, number of children, and marital status are all major markers of divination use during times of illness in the research area. Conclusion: Those with polygynous marriages, advanced age, no formal education, limited formal education, number of wives, and number of children are more prone to visit diviners in times of illness.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Consultation of Diviners for Well-Being: The Role of Socio- Demographic Attributes and Utilization of Divination for Health- Seeking Practices Among the Dagomba in Northern Ghana AU - Abukari Salifu Y1 - 2025/08/13 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18 DO - 10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18 T2 - International Journal of Education, Culture and Society JF - International Journal of Education, Culture and Society JO - International Journal of Education, Culture and Society SP - 210 EP - 223 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-3363 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijecs.20251004.18 AB - Background: This study focuses on divination and health-seeking behavior among the Dagomba in Ghana's Northern Region. Many research show that socio-demographic characteristics play an important effect on health-seeking practice through the use of divination. This study describes the use of divination and experiences in resolving health-related difficulties. The purpose of this study is to describe how demographic characteristics are used to influence the practice of divination. The aim of the study is to describe the function of divination in the treatment of ailments among the Dagomba. The study was guided by social constructivist theory. A total of 400 respondents were randomly and systematically sampled. 8 popular diviners and 5 custodians were also selected for the study. Methodolog: Questionnaires were utilized to collect data from 400 respondents aged 18-60+. The data gathered covers socio-demographic factors as well as their replies about how and why people seek diviner services during times of illness. Observation was equally employed to elicit additional information to supplement the data collected. Cross sectional study design was used for this studyData was evaluated using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and tabulations are used to investigate the link between demographic characteristics and dependent variables. (Whether or not the participants employ divination during times of illness). The descriptive statistics was used to investigate the effects of socio-demographic variables on whether a respondent used divination in times of illness. Results: Level of education, age, gender, number of wives, number of children, and marital status are all major markers of divination use during times of illness in the research area. Conclusion: Those with polygynous marriages, advanced age, no formal education, limited formal education, number of wives, and number of children are more prone to visit diviners in times of illness. VL - 10 IS - 4 ER -
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Disease Control. School of Public Health. University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
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