Document Detail


Utilization of alternative medical services by people of a north central city of Nigeria.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22066291     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
INTRODUCTION: The use of alternative therapies is becoming more popular in the recent times especially due to the increasing cost, distrust and limitations of modern western medical care. There is a universal trend toward naturalness and herbal medicine is now being modernized and being accepted by people who would not have used them. This community based study seeks to assess the prevalence, pattern, behaviour and determinants of AT use.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional descriptive survey among adults in the Ilorin city of Nigeria. Participants were selected by multistage sampling and information obtained by the use of semi-structured questionnaire.
RESULTS: Total prevalence AT use was 67.7% while total prevalence of indigenous and foreign AT use was 44.8 and 30.4% respectively. Among indigenous AT users, 87.5% will use both conventional and modernized type while 12.5% will use only the modernized type. More than 10% were new users of AT. Respondents use AT for promotive, preventive and curative purposes. Only 3.5% were considered as safe users according to 9-point items. The male respondents and the never married ones practice a safer use of alternative therapy (p<0.05). Similarly, the respondents with higher educational status also have a safer practice of AT use (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: There is high prevalence but unsafe AT use in Ilorin. There should be intensification of regulation of advertisement and sales of unwholesome herbal medicines. Further research to integrate the practice into modern healthcare is recommended.
Authors:
O L Abodunrin; T Omojasola; O O Rojugbokan
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  East African journal of public health     Volume:  8     ISSN:  0856-8960     ISO Abbreviation:  East Afr J Public Health     Publication Date:  2011 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-11-09     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101302040     Medline TA:  East Afr J Public Health     Country:  Tanzania    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  82-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Community Medicine Dept., University orf Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin Nigeria. drgbenga_2000@yahoo.com
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Reported human traffickers' profiles: a key step in the prevention of trafficking in persons through...
Next Document:  Immunogenicity and efficacy of Hoshino strain of mumps vaccine in Iran; two years study.