The purpose of this research is to examine public health problems in Nigeria. Specifically, this research explains the following: (1) how malaria and measles are or are not public health problems in Nigeria; (2) how nutritional deficiencies, and cultural and agricultural practices influence public health problems in Nigeria; (3) what needs to be done to eradicate malaria and measles in Nigeria; and (4) what can be done to improve the country's health care system.
MALARIA AND MEASLES AS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS
Malaria "is the world's most important infectious disease, affecting more than a hundred million people each year. In some areas, it kills nearly 10 percent of the population in childhood" (Diamond, 1989, p. 8). Malaria, along with blind ness, yaws, leprosy, sleeping sickness, and worm infections are major public health problems in Nigeria (Paxton, 1989).
Measles is an acute, contagious viral disease (Schoenbaum, 1985). Infestation of the disease is caused by tapeworms, whcih may be spread by livestock. While measles is a public health problem in Nigeria, it is not a problem of the scope and significance of the type posed to the country by malaria and the other diseases indicated above.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES, CULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL
PRACTICES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN NIGERIA
Most tropical diseases are endemic in Nigeria (Paxton, 1989). Agricultural practices involving the handling of live stock contribute to the spread of diseases throughout the country (Moran, & Bernard, 1989), as does the rapid urbaniza tion of the country, which is characterized by mass migrations from the countryside to the city (The World Bank, 1989). These problems of livestock management and urbanization also contri bute to a significant ground water contamination problem in the country, which, in turn, enhances the spread of disease (Mar shall, 1988).
With 356,700 square miles within its borders, Nigeria is, in geographic terms...