Uses of Traditional Medicine and the Health literacy: How the community response Oral health History in developing country

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The world is culturally endowed with various forms of traditional healing practices. Nepal is situated between India and China. Ayurveda of the Indian subcontinent, the Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, the Tibetan Medicine so close with Nepalese society since hundreds of years. Still, the people have faith and practice to follow the oral health history of such practice in the community. METHODS: To find out the knowledge, practice, belief and health literacy of skin infections among traditional healing faith community. It was the in-depth interview done among the patients with skin infections attending hospital Skin department and having faith in traditional medicine practices. Dermatology quality of life (DQLI) also done. Data were analyzed with SPSS, Epi Info. RESULTS: The total number of patients were 3420 in an eight months period (Jan-Aug 2015). Among them 8% having viral infections (herpes zoster). Male were 42% and female were 58%. 62% of the patients were above 50 years old. Most of the patients (92%) came to hospital for check up after going to traditional healer. 23% have adverse effects. They believe that the disease was due to god and demon angriness. So, as soon as the traditional healer should make the artistic picture of lion, dragon etc. If the two sides artistic picture meet, the chances of death will very high. DQLI is less in those patients. CONCLUSION: Traditional healers in developing country are still one of the consultation practices due to long term belief in oral health history. Evidence based practice and its Health literacy awareness program is essential to improve the quality of life of people. It is not changing over-anight to many generations who have faith on oral history in medical practices, which is the most challenging job in the era of globalization especially developing country like Nepal.