FUNCTIONALITY OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: A CRITICAL STUDY OF NIGERIAN HEALTH BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS

Abstract

This study exploires functionality of social institutions and Nigerian health behavioural patterns. Illness behaviour is related to absence of health in an individual, it also serve as an individual’s response to signs from the illness. Illness behaviour has been related to social factors, such as family structure, religion and culture among others. In this review paper, the Talcott Parsons functionalist perspective was adopted for the paper, theory argued on how different social institutions that make up the society sustain existence based on how each institution functions to coordinate its activities. The analogy of society as an organism is applicable in this context, as any living organism's health depends on the functionality of its organs. When one institution fails to function, it affects the functionality of the society, as a symbiotic relationship exists among the institutions to keep the society healthy. The methodology adopted was the desk review approach. The Desk review approach uses credible secondary sources to gather data and arrive at a logical view of a phenomenon. This afforded the researcher access to relevant articles on Nigerian society, functionality of social institutions in Nigerian society, and understanding a healthy Nigerian society. This search was conducted electronically on various academic databases such as Google Scholar, Research Gate, JSTOR, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Wiley Online Library. The major findings from the paper revealed that the prevalent patterns of illness behaviour documented in literature about people in Nigeria featured negative illness responses and patronage of traditional or private healthcare providers as popular options among the people. The paper recommended among other things that more health facilities be built and that cost of services be made affordable. Furthermore, health workers to be regularly re-trained to adopt appropriate attitudes at their work places