Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use of chronic disease patients in a community population in Myanmar

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine's (TCAM) use of chronic disease patients in a community setting in Myanmar. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional community survey was conducted in the Kyauk Tan Township with the International Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (I-CAM-Q). Results: Of the 1600 participants in the survey, the overall prevalence of any TCAM use (providers, products or self-care) was 95.1% (TCAM provider= 14.6%, TCAM products=65.0%, and self-help TCAM=86.2%) in the past 12 months. For all different types of TCAM providers, TCAM products and self-help TCAM more than 90% of participants perceived the TCAM as very or somewhat helpful. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age, no formal education, rural residence and having two or more chronic conditions were associated with any TCAM use. Conclusions: TCAM use, especially TCAM products and self-help TCAM, seem to be common in Myanmar. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence and associated factors of TCAM use of chronic disease patients in a community setting in Myanmar. Materials and Methods Study SettingThe study was conducted in Kyauktan Township, Myanmar. The total population of Kyauktan Township was 167921 (28419 in urban and 139502 in rural areas); urban composed of 9 wards/blocks and rural of 90 villages (Myanmar Central Statistical Organization, 2014). For the urban population one maternal and child health (MCH) centre is responsible for the MCH care of the urban population, and 9 health centres (2 station health units and 7 rural health centres) were responsible for providing health care to the rural population (Personal communication Dr Win Myint Oo, 10 June 2015). Sample and ProcedureA multi-staged random sampling procedure was applied. In the urban study area on the first stage, 6 wards out of 9 were selected randomly, and at the second stage 140 persons with a chronic disease were selected randomly from each ward. Midwives identified a list of persons with chronic diseases first and then selected study subjects. In the rural study area on the first stage, 4 health centres out of 9 were selected randomly, at the second stage 5 villages were randomly selected from each health centre selected on the previous stage, and at the third stage, 40 persons with chronic diseases were selected randomly from each village. Basic health care staff identified a list of persons with chronic diseases first and then selected the study subjects. In both urban and rural areas, only one person (18 years and above) from each household was randomly selected. Participants were informed about the Peltzer et al., Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2016) 13(3):150-155

Utilization of complementary and traditional medicine practitioners among older adults in India: results of a national survey in 2016-2017

“…In agreement with some previous studies [4,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31], this study found that in unadjusted analysis older age (≥60 years) was associated with AYUSH and THP utilization. Several studies showed that female sex was associated with TCM provider use [4,25,30], which in this study was found for AYUSH utilization but not for traditional health practitioner utilization.…”

“…While in a previous surveys [1,4], compared to scheduled tribes, all other castes were less likely utilizing AYUSH. Most previous studies [25][26][27][28] found an association between rural residence and TCM use, which is con rmed in this study for both AYUSH and THP utilization. Reasons for this may be attributed to subsidized public health care mostly serving economically better-off urban dwellers, while rural public health care is poorly staffed and has poorer quality, increasing the dependency on private providers, such as AYUSH and THP, for health care [4].…”

The cultural practices of Bamar diabetic patients: An ethnographic study

“…The overall prevalence of any TCAM (Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine) use in a community population in Myanmar was 95.1% (Peltzer, Win-Myint-Oo & Pengpid, 2016). With the prevalence of more than 10%, diabetes needs a special attention including the psycho-social management and the major challenges in Myanmar are public health seeking behavioral issues, presence of traditional medicine, lifestyle and diet and issues pertaining to religion (Than-Than-Aye, Moe-Wint-Aung & Ei-Sandar-Oo, 2014).…”

Investigating the factors behind differences in ‘lay’ and ‘expert’ medical knowledge in the context of fever treatment in Yangon, Myanmar.

“…While these are both valuable contributions to the literature, there is a distinctive lack of research using the CAF to understand 'lay' knowledge of health and treatment. Peltzer et al (2016) investigated the use of traditional medicine used by chronic disease patients in Myanmar; contrastingly, Khaing et al (2015); Risso-Gill et al (2013); Sommanustweechai et al (2016) and Zaw et al (2015) analysed Myanmar's health system and the disparities within it while maintaining a focus on biomedicine.…”