Alqahtani Youssef A, Shati Ayed A, Alalyani Reem T, Alolah Taghreed A, Alshahrani Maymunah A, Asiri Ghufran B, Alneami Afnan M, Asiri Fairouz M, Abumilha Shahd K, Alshahrani Atheer S
Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Medical Intern, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Gen Med. 2023 Oct 4;16:4515-4524. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S426943. eCollection 2023.
Traditional medicine has potential benefits, but distinguishing safe from risky procedures is crucial for safeguarding children's health. Harmful practices in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia, deeply rooted in cultural heritage, require scrutiny of parental attitudes and awareness.
The study aims to investigate and analyze the awareness, attitudes, and associated factors contributing to Harmful Traditional Medical Practices towards children in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia.
This study employed a cross-sectional design, using an online survey to collect data via a structured questionnaire developed from an extensive literature review on harmful traditional child medical practices in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia.
The study found that most respondents were aged 41-49 years (42.4%), lived in cities (77%), had at least an undergraduate degree (50.1%), and favored traditional medicine (55.9%). Common traditional medicine choices included "Herbs" (28.4%) and "Belly massage" (27.6%). Age significantly affected treatment preferences, while "Place of Resident" and "Education Level" hinted at potential differences. Personal experiences (37.2%) and family networks (31.4%) were key sources of information. Logistic regression analysis uncovered intricate links between sociodemographic and traditional medicine practices. Respondents' views on "Awareness", "Effectiveness", and "Complications" demonstrated notable statistical significance, influencing parents' and caregivers' perspectives in the study.
The study's outcomes underscore the imperative for heightened awareness and education concerning the potential hazards and complications tied to harmful traditional medical practices among parents and caregivers in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia, particularly with regard to their children's well-being. The evident inclination towards traditional medicine, reliance on personal experiences and familial networks for healthcare insights, and reservations regarding contemporary medical approaches underline the significance of addressing cultural beliefs.
传统医学有潜在益处，但区分安全与有风险的程序对于保护儿童健康至关重要。沙特阿拉伯阿西尔地区根深蒂固于文化传统的有害做法，需要审视家长的态度和认知。
本研究旨在调查和分析沙特阿拉伯阿西尔地区有害传统医疗行为中，导致对儿童有害的认知、态度及相关因素。
本研究采用横断面设计，通过在线调查，使用一份基于对沙特阿拉伯阿西尔地区有害传统儿童医疗行为的广泛文献综述而制定的结构化问卷来收集数据。
研究发现，大多数受访者年龄在41 - 49岁（42.4%），居住在城市（77%），至少拥有本科学历（50.1%），且倾向于传统医学（55.9%）。常见的传统医学选择包括“草药”（28.4%）和“腹部按摩”（27.6%）。年龄显著影响治疗偏好，而“居住地点”和“教育水平”暗示了潜在差异。个人经历（37.2%）和家庭网络（31.4%）是主要信息来源。逻辑回归分析揭示了社会人口统计学与传统医学实践之间的复杂联系。受访者对“认知”“有效性”和“并发症”的看法显示出显著的统计学意义，影响了研究中家长和照顾者的观点。
该研究结果强调，沙特阿拉伯阿西尔地区的家长和照顾者，尤其是涉及到子女福祉时，必须提高对有害传统医疗行为潜在危害和并发症的认知及教育。对传统医学的明显倾向、依靠个人经历和家庭网络获取医疗见解，以及对现代医疗方法的保留态度，凸显了应对文化信仰的重要性。
