Perceived Health Benefits and Utilization Patterns of Moringa Tree Products (Moringa oleifera) among Rural Households in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Perceived Health Benefits and Utilization Patterns of Moringa Tree Products (Moringa oleifera) among Rural Households in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract:

This study evaluated the perceived health advantages and utilization patterns of products derived from the Moringa oleifera tree among rural households in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The research encompassed an analysis of the socio-economic attributes of these rural households, an assessment of the extent to which respondents utilized Moringa oleifera, an exploration of the perceived health benefits attributed to its usage, an investigation into the factors influencing the extent of utilization, and an examination of the challenges associated with its adoption in the study region. Employing a multi-stage sampling technique, 244 participants were selected, and primary data were collected through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and attitudinal scales, including the Likert rating scale, were employed for data analysis.

The findings indicated that a significant proportion (60.7%) of respondents fell within the age range of 31 to 60 years, with an average age of 40 years. Moreover, a majority (84.0%) of participants had received some form of formal education, ranging from primary to tertiary levels, with an average of 13 years of schooling. Notably, the majority of respondents (99.2%) utilized Moringa leaves, followed by Moringa fruits/seeds (89.8%), Moringa roots (87.7%), and Moringa bark (64.3%). Among the Moringa tree products, Moringa leaves (X̅ = 2.84), Moringa fruits/seeds (X̅ = 2.07), and Moringa roots (X̅ = 2.05) exhibited the highest levels of utilization in the study area.

Regarding the perceived health benefits of Moringa oleifera tree products, respondents acknowledged various health advantages, with the most prominent being its effectiveness in treating High Blood Pressure (X̅ = 4.23), ranking as the top benefit. Logit regression analysis revealed a Pseudo R2 of 0.4189 and a Chi-squared statistic of 141.01, both statistically significant at p < 0.01 probability level, indicating the overall model’s goodness of fit. Factors such as marital status (2.05, p < 0.05), household size (2.04, p < 0.05), education (2.83, p < 0.01), farming experience (1.82, p < 0.1), cooperative membership (1.83, p < 0.1), access to credit (3.23, p < 0.01), moringa product availability (6.48, p < 0.01), purpose of utilization (2.79, p < 0.01), and perceived health benefits (2.17, p < 0.05) were identified as influencing the extent of Moringa oleifera tree product utilization.

Key constraints reported by respondents included insufficient finances for purchasing Moringa products (X̅ = 2.70), limited access to credit facilities (X̅ = 2.61), and inadequate extension services (X̅ = 2.32), ranking as the top three challenges. In conclusion, the study determined that respondents held positive perceptions of the health benefits associated with Moringa oleifera tree products. Moreover, the leaves, fruits/seeds, and roots of the tree were the most frequently utilized products. The study suggests the necessity for extension agencies to raise awareness regarding the importance of utilizing Moringa oleifera tree products.

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