ممارسات الطب البديل في المجتمع البحريني : دراسة ميدانية

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to find out the practices of alternative and folk medicines among adults attended health centers in Bahrain.

Five health centers were randomly selected.

The total sample size was 259 persons (104 male and 155 females) aged 19 years and above.

The findings revealed that 23.6% of respondents used hijama to treat some diseases.

The prevalence was higher among men (29.8%) than women (19.4%).

About 6.6% used cautery and 5% used acupuncture.

More than half of respondents (53.7%) used herbal medicine, and the prevalence was higher among women (58%) than men (47%).

Same trends were seen in using honey and black cumin.

As for using herbal medicine for treatment of children, it was found that the most common health symptoms treated by herbal medicine were cough (38%), diarrhea (35.9%), abdominal pain (57.1%) and constipation (57.1%).

The differences were statistically significant in using herbal medicine for these symptoms between men and women.

About 25% of respondents believed in treatment by energy and 39.3% believed in aromatherapy.

The great majority of respondents (76%) believed that envy can cause diseases.

Of respondents, 25% believed that folk medicine is better than traditional medicine, and 68% believed that there are no side effects in using herbal medicine.