Psycho-socioeconomic factors affecting complementary and alternative medicine use among selected rural communities in
Kurubaran Ganasegeran1, Anantha Kumar Rajendran2, Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai3
1Medical Department, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR), Jalan Langat, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia; International Medical School, Management and Science University (MSU), Off Persiaran Olahraga, Section 13, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Introduction:
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a source of cure has gained much spectrum worldwide, despite skeptics and advocates of evidence-based practice conceptualized such therapies as human nostrum.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the factors affecting CAM use among rural communities in Malaysia.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out on 288 occupants across four rural villages within the District of Selama, Perak, Malaysia. A survey that consisted of socio-economic characteristics, history of CAM use and the validated Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) were used.
Results:
The prevalence of self-reported CAM use over the past one year was 53.1%. Multiple logistic regression analyses yielded three significant predictors of CAM use: monthly household income of less than MYR 2500, higher education level, and positive attitude towards CAM.
Conclusion:
Psycho-socioeconomic factors were significantly associated with CAM use among rural communities in Malaysia.
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