Abstract
This study aimed at investigating traditional medical beliefs and practices in illness behavior as well as predictors of the practices in Gondar city, northwestern Ethiopia, by using the integrated model of behavioral prediction. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted to collect data through interviewer administered structured questionnaires from 496 individuals selected by probability proportional to size sampling technique. Unadjusted bivariate and adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, and the results indicated that sociocultural predictors of normative response and attitude as well as psychosocial individual difference variables of traditional understanding of illness causation and perceived efficacy had statistically significant associations with traditional medical practices. Due to the influence of these factors, majority of the study population (85%) thus relied on both herbal and spiritual varieties of traditional medicine to respond to their perceived illnesses, supporting the conclusion that characterized the illness behavior of the people as mainly involving traditional medical practices. The results implied two-way medicine needs to be developed with ongoing research, and health educations must take the traditional customs into consideration, for integrating interventions in the health care system in ways that the general public accepts yielding a better health outcome.
Highlights
Illness behavior, broadly speaking, refers to any behavior undertaken by an individual who feels ill to relieve that experience or to better define the meaning of the illness experience
Majority of the population in Gondar city relied on both herbal and spiritual varieties of traditional medicine (TM) to respond to perceived illnesses
The illness behavior of the people can be characterized as mainly involving TM practices
Summary
Broadly speaking, refers to any behavior undertaken by an individual who feels ill to relieve that experience or to better define the meaning of the illness experience. The study of illness behavior, involves investigating the way people define and interpret bodily indications and use informal and formal sources of care [1], and the decision-making process of persons who consider themselves unwell is the main focus of its understanding [2], bringing the study of traditional medicine (TM) to the fore. With its holistic nature consisting medication (herbal) and nonmedication (religious or spiritual) therapies [4], TM has maintained longstanding worldwide popularity and is used by large section of the population in both developed and developing countries. In East Africa too, TM is the dominant and popular system of health care used by about 80% of the population [5]
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