Health outcome measures and determinants of using indigenous medicine in a pluralistic healthcare in Nagaland, Northeast India

Abstract

IntroductionTraditional medicines have been used for different ailments in the dominant modern healthcare, and also as a complement to it. Though it serves as an important healthcare services but is often underestimated. Therefore, the potential contribution of traditional medicine in healthcare needs to be explored, harnessed and promoted. ObjectivesFirst, this paper attempts to assess users’ outcome measures of Euroquol 5 Dimension of traditional medicine using paretian classification of health change. Second, to analyze the determinants and interdependence of disease and type of healthcare. MethodsPrimary data was collected from Dimapur district, Nagaland during March–July 2014 from 540 households and statistical techniques like Bivariate probit analysis was used. ResultsParetian classification of health change found 27% of the respondents has ‘improved’ their health status after using traditional medicine, but 45% had also ‘mix change’ in health status. Bivariate probit analysis shows significant result among older age groups that are more likely to suffer from non-communicable diseases. The longer the duration of disease, the more likely to use traditional medicine and for non-communicable diseases the probability of using traditional medicine was higher as compared to allopathic medicine. ConclusionDemand for traditional medicine is evident and it does contribute in providing healthcare. Thus, from the stakeholders, efforts for proper conservation, validation and documentation is necessary for promotion and development of indigenous medicine. Hence reducing the burden of healthcare expenditure among the communities and also sustain the rich cultural practices of traditional medicine.