Traditional Health Services Utilization in Disadvantage Areas in Indonesia

Abstract

The low availability of health services in disadvantaged areas raises conventional medicine as an alternative. The study aims to analyze the factors related to traditional health services (THS) utilization in disadvantaged areas in Indonesia, based on Presidential Regulation Number 63 of 2020 concerning the Determination of Underdeveloped Regions for 2020–2024. The research employed data from the 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Survey. This cross-sectional survey analyzed 16,346 respondents. The study looked at THS use as a dependent variable and six independent variables (age group, gender, marital status, education level, occupation type, and wealth status). We employed binary logistic regression to analyze the data. The results showed that Indonesia's average THS utilization in a disadvantaged area in 2018 was 17.6%. Meanwhile, the study found that age group, marital status, occupation type, and wealth status were related to THS utilization in a disadvantaged area in Indonesia. The older a person is, the more likely he is to utilize THS. Those who are married were more likely to use THS than unmarried. The study also found that work type and wealth status were related to THS utilization. The study concluded four factors associated with THS utilization in a disadvantaged area in Indonesia: age, marital, occupation, and wealth. We need further qualitative studies about the reasons why people choose THS. This follow-up study is vital for policymakers to develop THS according to the needs of their consumers.