Preference and willingness to pay for traditional medicine services in rural ethnic minority community in Vietnam.

Bach Xuan Tran,Ngan Kim Nguyen,Lan Phuong Nguyen,Vuong Minh Nong,Cuong Tat Nguyen,Long Hoang Nguyen

doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1010-7

Abstract

BackgroundTraditional medicine (TM) still plays an important role in a number of health care systems around the world, especially across Asian and African countries. In Vietnam, however, little is known about preference for traditional medicine use. This study assessed the prevalence of use, preference, satisfaction, and willingness to pay for TM services amongst rural ethnic minority community.MethodsA cross-sectional survey in three provinces in the North and South of Vietnam.ResultsThe results showed a high level of satisfaction with TM services, with more than 90 % of respondents reporting improved health status given the use of TM. Indicators for preference of TM over modern medicine are a longer distance to health station; being in an ethnic minority; being female; and having had higher service satisfaction. Although we did not have a comparison group, the high level of satisfaction with TM services is likely the result of a project targeting community health workers and the public regarding TM education and access promotion. Indeed, the community health workers are credited with relaying the information about TM more than any other sources. This suggests the importance of community health workers and community health centers in the promotion of TM use.ConclusionsEthnic minority people prefer the use of traditional medicine services that supports the expansion of national programs and promotion of traditional medications.

Highlights

Traditional medicine (TM) still plays an important role in a number of health care systems around the world, especially across Asian and African countries
The prevalence of TM use by general populations was higher in East Asian countries (South Korea: 45.8–69 %, China: 90 % or Lao PDR: 77 %) [2,3,4] in comparison with developed countries with around 50 % in Australia, 42 % in
This paper aims to assess preference and awareness of traditional medicine use as well as the satisfaction for TM services among people in mountainous and difficult areas

Summary

Introduction

Traditional medicine (TM) still plays an important role in a number of health care systems around the world, especially across Asian and African countries. The preference for TM and its reasons were diverse across regions In both developed and developing world, for example, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the United States, there was about 45 to 70 % people more likely to choose traditional medical care than western medicine [10, 11, 14]. Among those given preference for TM, they highly appreciated its affordability, accessibility, and acceptability [14]. The use of TM was associated with awareness of patients, availability of services and coverage of communication campaigns on TM [13, 17, 18]

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