Assessement of Traditional Medicine Utilization for Children and Associated Factors Among Parents in Tole Woreda, Southwest Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2017
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In many culture, traditional medicine used as one of primary health care refined over hundreds or
even thousands of years. Historians from all around the world have produced evidence to show
that apparently all primitive peoples used traditional medicine often in sophisticated way. In
Ethiopia up to 80% of the population uses traditional medicine due to the cultural acceptability of
healers and local pharmacopeias, the relatively low cost of traditional medicine and difficult
access to modern health facilities.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess traditional medicine utilization and its
determinants among parents of children, in Tole Wareda, South West of Oromia, Ethiopia, 2017.
Method: A community based quantitative cross sectional study was employed among all parents
who have children up to 18 years old. Data were collected using pre-tested structured interviewer
administered questionnaire. The study was conducted among 267 households selected by
systematic random sampling technique after pre assessment and numbering of <18 years children
in the house hold. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data. Finally,
odds ratio, binary and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the association between
dependent and independent variables.
Results: It was found that 85.9% of parents had used TM for their children. Herbal medicine,
massage and religious/prayer therapy were (34.4%), 55 (25.9%) and 25 (11.8%) used major
therapies respectively. Monthly income found medium (500-850) [AOR: 0.25(0.08, 0.78)],
cultural belief [AOR: 3.01(1.16, 7.83)], religious belief [AOR= 3.17(1.26, 7.93)] and duration of
illness [AOR=3.11(1.07, 9.02)] were associated with parental traditional medicine use for their
children in this study.
Conclusion and recommendations: Traditional medicine use is highly prevalent in the study
area 85.9%. Therefore, the integration of traditional medicine as part of modern medicine should
be strengthened. Community education and further research on efficacy and safety of TM should
also be done.
Key words: traditional medicine; children; parents; Tole wareda; Ethiopia
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Keywords
Traditional medicine, Children, Parents, Tole wareda, Ethiopia