Use Of Traditional Health Care Research Articles

Integrating traditional and allopathic child health: A healthcare transformation opportunity.

Numerous forums both domestically and internationally have discussed integration of allopathic and traditional healthcare. In South Africa, using traditional child healthcare is popular practice. If properly controlled, integrating this aspect of traditional child-health with allopathic healthcare may be advantageous to communities that use both healthcare systems. Allopathic and traditional healthcare remain separate organisations in South Africa despite efforts and discussions to integrate them. The study sought to explore the integration of traditional and allopathic child healthcare from the perspectives of children's caregivers and traditional healthcare practitioners. The study was conducted in a semi-urban area in the city of Tshwane. An exploratory qualitative research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 11 traditional healthcare practitioners and 15 children's caregivers who were sampled using snowball and convenient sampling respectively. The participants expressed their understanding of the usage of traditional healthcare practitioners in the care of children as well as their support for integration, and further indicated its necessity. Religion and its effects in health-seeking behaviour were cited as a factor in why there has not been greater integration between the two healthcare systems. The undocumented and undisclosed use of traditional healthcare potentially hinders the delivery of therapeutic healthcare. As such, integrating the two systems is essential to ensure patients' safety. This article highlights understanding of culture congruence and safe child healthcare that may be brought forward by the integration of the two healthcare systems.

Impact of Maternal Health Behaviours and Social Conditions on Infant Diet at Age 1-Year: Results from a Prospective Indigenous Birth Cohort in Ontario, Canada.

Background: Understanding the impact of maternal health behaviours and social conditions on childhood nutrition is important to inform strategies to promote health during childhood. Objective: To describe how maternal health sociodemographic factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, education), health behaviours (e.g., diet), and traditional health care use during pregnancy impact infant diet at age 1-year. Methods: Data were collected from the Indigenous Birth Cohort (ABC) study, a prospective birth cohort formed in partnership with an Indigenous community-based Birthing Centre in southwestern Ontario, Canada. 110 mother-infant dyads are included in the study and were enrolled between 2012 and 2017. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to understand factors associated with infant diet scores at age 1-year, with a higher score indicating a diet with more healthy foods. Results: The mean age of women enrolled during pregnancy was 27.3 (5.9) years. Eighty percent of mothers had low or moderate social disadvantage, 47.3% completed more than high school education, and 70% were cared for by a midwife during their pregnancy. The pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was <25 in 34.5% of women, 15.5% of mothers smoked during pregnancy, and 14.5% of mothers had gestational diabetes. Being cared for by an Indigenous midwife was associated with a 0.9-point higher infant diet score (p = 0.001) at age 1-year, and lower maternal social disadvantage was associated with a 0.17-point higher infant diet quality score (p = 0.04). Conclusion: This study highlights the positive impact of health care provision by Indigenous midwives and confirms that higher maternal social advantage has a positive impact on child nutrition.

The Determinants of Traditional Health Care Use in The Era Health Insurance In Indonesia

Background: The use of traditional medicine has increased significantly over the past few years. The main reasons for the increasing use of traditional medicine is a growing trend for patients to take a more proactive approach to their own health and to seek out different forms of self-care. This study aimed to identify the dominant risk factors that related to use of traditional health care in the era health insurance in Indonesia&#x0D; Methods: The study used household data from 2018 National Health Survey Indonesia. Using cox regression, we then could present dominant risk factors that related to use of traditional health care among Indonesian in the era health insurance.&#x0D; Results: Total subjects had been analyzed were 764,996 subjects. The proportion of those who used of traditional health care were 31.4% (337,471/764,996). Dominant risk factors related to used of traditional health care were gender, age group, employment status, knowing about the availability of health care, and Affordability of transportation costs to health care. Compared with those who were male, those were female had 1.09 more likely to used of traditional health care [odds ratio adjusted (ORa)=1.09; 95% CI= 1.04 to 1.14]. Household who had low education level had 1.10 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1.10; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.18). Household who were privat employees had 1.33 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1.33; 95% CI=1.25 to 1.41). Household who had high economic level had 1.31 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1,31; 95% CI=1,23 to 1,41). Furthermore, household who knowed about the availability of health care had 1.44 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1,44; 95% CI=1,29 to 1,60).&#x0D; Conclusion: Household subjects who were female, aged 46-65 years old, self-employed workers, aware of the availability of health services, affordable for transportation costs to health facilities were more likely to use traditional health care.

Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas.

A surprisingly large number of species potentially threatened by human harvest lack quantitative ecological studies incorporating harvest effects, especially clonal species in the alpine Himalayas. We studied density and biomass variation of a threatened medicinal herb, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, to examine the effect of harvest on plant performance. The study covered two regions with contrasting harvest situations—one with open‐access and another protected from commercial harvesting. Four populations from each region were compared along an elevation gradient (3,800–4,800 m). Also, we conducted in situ interviews with 165 and 38 medicinal and aromatic plant users in open‐access and protected regions, respectively, to assess the collection and use patterns of the target species. The quantity harvested per household for traditional healthcare use was similar in both regions. We found no evidence of trade‐driven collection in the protected region but in the open‐access region a trade‐based annual collection of 35–465 kg dried rhizomes per household had a strong negative effect on both density and biomass. In the protected region, the effect of harvest intensity on plant density was positive for vegetative and negative for reproductive individuals, whereas in the open‐access region, the effect was negative for both vegetative and reproductive individuals. The results indicated that a low harvest intensity had no adverse impact on N. scrophulariiflora populations; however, quantification of the optimum level of harvest remains to be explored. Shrub vegetation appeared to buffer the harvest impact on plant density, possibly through the retention of additional moisture. To maintain population viability, we suggest regulating harvest, for example, by introducing rotational harvest systems, ensuring that a sufficient number of reproductive individuals are left as a source of propagules in each harvested population and that populations are given time to recover between harvests.

Latinx Use of Traditional Health Care: The Social Network Effect.

Studies on access to health care among Latinx communities have overlooked (a) the use of traditional healers and (b) the role of social networks in seeking traditional healers. Framed within the network-episode model, this study aimed to examine the role of individual, institutional, and personal network systems in the use of curanderxs among Latinxs in the United States. Using a nationally representative sample of Latinx adults (N = 3,997) from the 2007 Hispanic Healthcare Survey, authors conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses to investigate the impact of individual, institutional, and personal network systems on the use of curanderxs. Respondents who believed in spiritual healing (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.06) and came from a household that used curanderxs (AOR = 13.4) were more likely to seek the help of curanderxs when in need of health care. The personal network system had most explanatory power in the use of curanderxs. The findings add insight to the integration of traditional medicine in the provision of health care services to Latinxs in the United States. (Authors use the terms "Latinx" and "curanderx" to be inclusive of all gender identities.).

The use of traditional health care among Indonesian Family

Latar belakang : Penggunaan obat tradisional, pengobatan komplementer dan alternatif meningkat selama beberapa tahun terakhir. Alasan utama meningkatnya penggunaan obat tradisional adalah pasien mengambil pendekatan yang lebih proaktif untuk kesehatan mereka dan mencari berbagai bentuk perawatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor dominan yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional pada rumah tangga di Indonesia Metode : Penelitian ini menggunakan data rumah tangga dari data Riskesdas tahun 2013. Jumlah data yang dianalisis sebesar 294.959 subjek. Analisis data menggunakan analisis kompleks sampel dengan regresi logistik untuk memperoleh faktor dominan yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional pada rumah tangga di Indonesia Hasil : Sebanyak 294.959 subjek pada penelitian ini. Proporsi subjek yang memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional adalah 30,4% (89.752/294.959). Faktor risiko dominan yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional adalah wilayah tempat tinggal, tingkat pendidikan, status pekerjaan, status ekonomi, dan ketersediaan pelayanan kesehatan. Dibandingkan dengan rumah tangga yang tinggal di pedesaan, rumahtangga yang berada di perkotaan berpeluang 1,09 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradsional [rasio odds suaian (ORa)= 1,09; 95% CI= 1,04 to 1,14]. Rumah tangga yang tingkat pendidikannya rendah berpeluang 1,10 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional (ORa=1,10; 95% CI=1,03 to 1,18). Rumah tangga dengan pekerjaan swasta berpeluang 1,33 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradsional (ORa=1,33; 95% CI=1,25 to 1,41). Rumah tangga yang memiliki tingkat ekonomi tinggi berpeluang 1,31 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional (ORa=1,31; 95% CI=1,23 to 1,41). Rumah tangga yang mengetahui ketersediaan pelayanan kesehatan berpeluang 1,44 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional (ORa=1,44; 95% CI=1,29 to 1,60). Kesimpulan : Rumah tangga yang tinggal di perkotaan, memiliki tingkat pendidikan rendah, pekerja swasta, memiliki status ekonomi yang tinggi, mengetahui ketersediaan pelayanan kesehatan, lebih berpeluang memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional Kata kunci : pelayanan kesehatan tradisional, rumah tangga, Indonesia Background: The use of traditional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine has increased significantly over the past few years. The main reasons for the increasing use of traditional medicine is a growing trend for patients to take a more proactive approach to their own health and to seek out different forms of self-care. This study aimed to investigate the dominant risk factors that related to use of traditional health care among Indonesian family Methods : The study used households data from 2013 National Health Survey Indonesia. Using logistic regression, we then could present dominant risk factors that related to use of traditional health care among Indonesian family Results : Total subjects had been analyzed were 294,959 subjects. The subjectsof this study were heads or members of households. The proportion of those who used of traditional health care were 30,4% (78,775/294,959). Dominant risk factors related to used of traditional health care were types area, levels of education, employment status, levels of economic, and knowing about the availability of health care. Compared with those who were in rural, those who were in urban had 1.09 more likely to used of traditional health care [odds ratio adjusted (ORa)=1.09; 95% CI= 1.04 to 1.14]. Households who had low education level had 1.10 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1.10; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.18). Households who were private employees had 1.33 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1.33; 95% CI=1.25 to 1.41). Households who had high economic level had 1.31 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1,31; 95% CI=1,23 to 1,41). Furthermore, households who knowing about the availability of health care had 1.44 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1,44; 95% CI=1,29 to 1,60). Conclusion : Households subjects who were in urban area, private employees, had low level of education and high economic, knowing the availability of health services were more likely to used of traditional health care Keywords : traditional health care, households Indonesia

The use of traditional health care among Indonesian Family

The use of traditional health care among Indonesian Family

The use of traditional health care among Indonesian Family

Latar belakang: Penggunaan obat tradisional, pengobatan komplementer dan alternatif meningkat selama beberapa tahun terakhir. Alasan utama meningkatnya penggunaan obat tradisional adalah pasien mengambil pendekatan yang lebih proaktif untuk kesehatan mereka dan mencari berbagai bentuk perawatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor dominan yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional pada rumah tangga di Indonesia Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan data rumah tangga dari data Riskesdas tahun 2013. Jumlah data yang dianalisis sebesar 294.959 subjek. Analisis data menggunakan analisis kompleks sampel dengan regresi logistik untuk memperoleh faktor dominan yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional pada rumah tangga di Indonesia Hasil: Sebanyak 294.959 subjek pada penelitian ini. Proporsi subjek yang memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional adalah 30,4% (89.752/294.959). Faktor risiko dominan yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional adalah wilayah tempat tinggal, tingkat pendidikan, status pekerjaan, status ekonomi, dan ketersediaan pelayanan kesehatan. Dibandingkan dengan rumah tangga yang tinggal di pedesaan, rumahtangga yang berada di perkotaan berpeluang 1,09 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradsional [rasio odds suaian (ORa)= 1,09; 95% CI= 1,04 to 1,14]. Rumah tangga yang tingkat pendidikannya rendah berpeluang 1,10 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional (ORa=1,10; 95% CI=1,03 to 1,18). Rumah tangga dengan pekerjaan swasta berpeluang 1,33 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradsional (ORa=1,33; 95% CI=1,25 to 1,41). Rumah tangga yang memiliki tingkat ekonomi tinggi berpeluang 1,31 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional (ORa=1,31; 95% CI=1,23 to 1,41). Rumah tangga yang mengetahui ketersediaan pelayanan kesehatan berpeluang 1,44 kali memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional (ORa=1,44; 95% CI=1,29 to 1,60). Kesimpulan: Rumah tangga yang tinggal di perkotaan, memiliki tingkat pendidikan rendah, pekerja swasta, memiliki status ekonomi yang tinggi, mengetahui ketersediaan pelayanan kesehatan, lebih berpeluang memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan tradisional Kata kunci: pelayanan kesehatan tradisional, rumah tangga, Indonesia Background: The use of traditional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine has increased significantly over the past few years. The main reasons for the increasing use of traditional medicine is a growing trend for patients to take a more proactive approach to their own health and to seek out different forms of self-care. This study aimed to investigate the dominant risk factors that related to use of traditional health care among Indonesian family Methods: The study used households data from 2013 National Health Survey Indonesia. Using logistic regression, we then could present dominant risk factors that related to use of traditional health care among Indonesian family Results: Total subjects had been analyzed were 294,959 subjects. The subjectsof this study were heads or members of households. The proportion of those who used of traditional health care were 30,4% (78,775/294,959). Dominant risk factors related to used of traditional health care were types area, levels of education, employment status, levels of economic, and knowing about the availability of health care. Compared with those who were in rural, those who were in urban had 1.09 more likely to used of traditional health care [odds ratio adjusted (ORa)=1.09; 95% CI= 1.04 to 1.14]. Households who had low education level had 1.10 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1.10; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.18). Households who were private employees had 1.33 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1.33; 95% CI=1.25 to 1.41). Households who had high economic level had 1.31 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1,31; 95% CI=1,23 to 1,41). Furthermore, households who knowing about the availability of health care had 1.44 more likely to used of traditional health care (ORa=1,44; 95% CI=1,29 to 1,60). Conclusion: Households subjects who were in urban area, private employees, had low level of education and high economic, knowing the availability of health services were more likely to used of traditional health care Keywords: traditional health care, households Indonesia

Health Care Seeking Behaviour and Predictors of Combined Orthodox and Traditional Health Care Utilization among Households in Communities in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Background: Health care seeking behaviour is a complex, dynamic and multidimensional process that involves a sequence of remedial actions that are influenced by the interaction between the individual, household and community with the intention of addressing perceived ill health. Objective: To determine health care seeking attitude and behaviour and the predictors of combined orthodox and traditional health care use among households in communities in Owerri, Imo State. Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional design that used a multistage random sampling technique to select 500 participants from households in two communities in Owerri, Imo State. Data was collected using a pretested, semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were done with frequencies and summary statistics. Chi square statistics were computed to determine significant relationships and binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors of combined use. P was set at 0.05 significance level. Results: The results revealed that, while just more than half of the respondents (56.4%) had a moderate to good level of overall knowledge of health care, almost all of the respondents (96.2%) also had a moderate to good level of overall positive attitude towards seeking health care; with less than one third (29.4%) using combined orthodox and traditional health care treatments. It further revealed that, respondents who were female, traders and from households of polygamous families were significantly more likely to use combined orthodox and traditional health care treatments (p < 0.05) while those with a tertiary level of education, from households with a professional as head, having private water closet toilets and earning a monthly income of more than 50,000 Naira ($140) were significantly less likely to use combined orthodox and traditional health care treatments (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a need to be more sensitive to the realities of the combined use of orthodox and traditional treatments, as its use will be difficult to prevent because this behaviour is rooted in the traditional and cultural belief system of our societies.

Changing use of traditional healthcare amongst those dying of HIV related disease and TB in rural South Africa from 2003 - 2011: a retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundIn 2011 there were 5.5 million HIV infected people in South Africa and 71% of those requiring antiretroviral therapy (ART) received it. The effective integration of traditional medical practitioners and biomedical providers in HIV prevention and care has been demonstrated. However concerns remain that the use of traditional treatments for HIV-related disease may lead to pharmacokinetic interactions between herbal remedies and ART drugs and delay ART initiation. Here we analyse the changing prevalence and determinants of traditional healthcare use amongst those dying of HIV-related disease, pulmonary tuberculosis and other causes in a rural South African community between 2003 and 2011. ART was made available in this area in the latter part of this period.MethodsData was collected during household visits and verbal autopsy interviews. InterVA-4 was used to assign causes of death. Spatial analyses of the distribution of traditional healthcare use were performed. Logistic regression models were developed to test associations of determinants with traditional healthcare use.ResultsThere were 5929 deaths in the study population of which 47.7% were caused by HIV-related disease or pulmonary tuberculosis (HIV/AIDS and TB). Traditional healthcare use declined for all deaths, with higher levels throughout for those dying of HIV/AIDS and TB than for those dying of other causes. In 2003-2005, sole use of biomedical treatment was reported for 18.2% of HIV/AIDS and TB deaths and 27.2% of other deaths, by 2008–2011 the figures were 49.9% and 45.3% respectively. In bivariate analyses, higher traditional healthcare use was associated with Mozambican origin, lower education levels, death in 2003–2005 compared to the later time periods, longer illness duration and moderate increases in prior household mortality. In the multivariate model only country of origin, time period and illness duration remained associated.ConclusionsThere were large decreases in reported traditional healthcare use and increases in the sole use of biomedical treatment amongst those dying of HIV/AIDS and TB. No associations between socio-economic position, age or gender and the likelihood of traditional healthcare use were seen. Further qualitative and quantitative studies are needed to assess whether these figures reflect trends in healthcare use amongst the entire population and the reasons for the temporal changes identified.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-504) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pharmacy Students’ Use of and Beliefs About Traditional Healthcare

Health professional students come from many different cultural backgrounds, and may be users of traditional healthcare (also known as ethnomedicine or folk medicine). This study aimed to explore New Zealand pharmacy students' knowledge and beliefs about traditional healthcare, and to examine whether these changed during the course. A questionnaire was administered to students in 2011 and again in 2013. Students were from a wide range of ethnic groups. Their reported use of traditional healthcare increased (from 48% in 2011 to 61% in 2013) and was usually for minor illness or prevention. Non New Zealand European students were more likely to use traditional healthcare. Use of traditional healthcare was relatively common, and after exposure to a biomedical curriculum students seemed to be more, rather than less likely to report using traditional healthcare. Education about traditional healthcare should not be based on the assumption that all healthcare students are unfamiliar with, or non-users of, traditional healthcare.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies by Overweight and Obese Adults

Obesity is associated with higher health-care costs due, in part, to higher use of traditional health care. Few data are available on the relationship between obesity and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We analyzed data on CAM use from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Alternative Medicine Supplement (n=31,044). We compared the use of CAM overall, within the past 12 months, between normal weight (BMI from 18 to <25), overweight (from 25 to <30), mildly obese (from 30 to <35), moderately obese (from 35 to <40), and extremely obese (>40) adults. For the primary analysis, our multivariable model was adjusted for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors. We performed additional analyses to explore the association of BMI and the use of seven CAM modalities. We found that adults with obesity have lower prevalence of use of yoga therapy, and similar prevalence of use of several CAM modalities, including relaxation techniques, natural herbs, massage, chiropractic medicine, tai chi, and acupuncture, compared to normal-weight individuals. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors, adults with obesity were generally less likely to use most individual CAM modalities, although the magnitude of these differences were quite modest in many cases. Even though adults with obesity have a greater illness burden and higher utilization of traditional medical care, adults with higher BMIs were no more likely to use each of the individual CAM therapies studied. Additional research is needed to improve our understanding of CAM use by adults with obesity.

The status of bark in South African traditional health care

Bark products constitute nearly one third of plant material used in South African traditional medicine. Since the large majority of South Africans make use of traditional health care, bark is fundamental to the traditional pharmacopoeia. In this review we consider the status of bark resources, as reflected by the literature, and highlight the need for multi-disciplinary research to address the lack of available information on plant species used for their bark. The supply of bark to the medicinal plant trade has been rendered non-sustainable, due to increased user populations and reduced indigenous vegetation. Whilst conservation of the South African flora is paramount, natural resources cannot meet the current, nor foreseeable, demand for bark. Alternatives such as tree propagation and cultivation, strategic management and plant part substitution are discussed. Effective implementation of these action plans is reliant on the dissemination of existing and new knowledge. The prevailing scenario of a non-sustainable bark supply has impacted negatively on the quality of bark products available to the consumer, as problems of incorrect identification and purposeful adulteration arise. To facilitate monitoring and standardisation, phytochemical references should be established for bark authentication, and used in conjunction with morphological and anatomical characters for identification in the case of unknown specimens. The importance of bark in South African traditional health care warrants attention from all research sectors to conserve the country’s rich floral heritage, and the integrity of traditional health care.

Use of alternative therapies by older adults with osteoarthritis.

To examine the rates of use and expenditures on alternative therapies by adults with osteoarthritis (OA). Adults with OA recruited from the community to participate in a randomized clinical trial recorded alternative and traditional health care use on postcard diaries. General and arthritis-specific quality of life was assessed by questionnaires. More than 47% of participants reported using at least one type of alternative care during the 20-week intervention period. Among alternative care consumers, the most commonly used treatments were massage therapy (57%), chiropractic services (20.7%), and nonprescribed alternative medications (17.2%). Four percent of subjects reported using only alternative care during the study period. Expenditures for alternative therapy averaged $1,127 per year, compared with $1,148 for traditional therapies. Use of and expenditures for alternative care were high among this cohort of older adults with OA. Clinicians may want to inquire about use of these therapies before recommending treatments for this condition.

Beliefs and Practices Regarding Delivery and Postpartum Maternal Morbidity in Rural Bangladesh

Most maternal deaths occur in the puerperium and most maternal morbidities probably also arise at that time. Maternal morbidities occur much more frequently than maternal deaths, but very little is known about their magnitude or causes. This study uses focus-group discussions to explore the experiences of childbirth and postpartum illness among rural Bangladeshi women. The women's beliefs about disease causation, and their use of traditional health care, are explored. The significance of the findings for the training of traditional birth attendants and for programs of postpartum care is discussed.