Traditional vs. non-traditional healing for minor and major morbidities in India: uses, cost and quality comparisons.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the uses, cost and quality of care of traditional healing for short-term morbidities and major morbidities in India and to compare them with the non-traditional healing.

METHODS

We used data from a nationally representative survey, the India Human Development Survey (2004-2005) and descriptive as well as bivariate analyses for the examination.

RESULTS

Use of traditional healing is much less common than use of non-traditional healing in both rural and urban areas and across all socio-economic and demographic characteristics; it is slightly more common in rural than urban areas for short-term morbidities. Use of traditional healing is relatively more frequent for cataract (especially in rural areas), leprosy, asthma, polio, paralysis, epilepsy and mental illnesses; its total cost of care and mean waiting time (in the health facility) are substantially lower than for non-traditional healing. Among patients who use both traditional and non-traditional healing, a relatively higher proportion use traditional healing complemented by non-traditional healing for short-term illnesses, but vice versa for major morbidities.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study which has investigated at the national level the uses, complementarities, cost and quality aspects of traditional and non-traditional healing in India. Traditional healing is more affordable and pro-poor. Relatively higher use of traditional healing in patients from poorly educated as well as poor households and suffering from diseases, such as, epilepsy and mental illnesses; and higher demand for traditional healing for the above diseases highlight the need for research/policy reorientation in India.