Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Despite all the marvellous advancements in modern medicine, traditional medicine (TM) has always been practiced. More than 80% of the developing world’s population still depends on the complementary and alternative systems of medicine (CAM). Aims & Objectives: To assess proportion of CAM practices, distinguish types of CAM practiced, identify personal characteristics associated with practicing CAM and recognize satisfaction of attendants towards CAM outcome.
Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytic study including a representative sample of PHCC attendee in Abha, KSA. Following a simple random sampling technique, "Al-Manhal" PHCC was selected. Adult attendants of this PHCC constituted the study population. Based on thorough review of literature, a data collection questionnaire was developed in simple Arabic language. It comprises personal characteristics and details of CAM practice.
Results: The study included 400 participants. Their age ranged between 16 and 79 years with a mean of 38.1±12.4 years. Slightly more than half of them (50.5%) were females. Almost one-quarter of the participants (99; 24.8%) had a history of complementary and alternative medicine practice. Out of them, 53.5% visited faith healers. Almost half of participants (50.5%) treated with CAM were improved, 15.2% were deteriorated while 34.3% of them claimed that there was no change after CAM therapy for their disease status. In the multivariate analysis, older (>50 years), females, low educated, manual workers, housewives and unemployed participants were at higher probability of visiting traditional medicine (TM). Conclusion: CAM therapies are practiced by a considerable proportion of patients in Abha city. Older, females, less educated patients as well as manual workers, house wives and unemployed participants utilized CAM more than other groups of patients. There is a need to implement an effective population-based educational program about this type of therapy.