Utilization and practice of traditional/complementary/alternative medicine (T/CAM) in Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) member states

Abstract

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of published and unpublished research investigating the prevalence of Traditional Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) use in the general and clinical population in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Results found that the use of TCAM was the highest in Malaysia (55.6%), followed by Singapore (among older adults) (42.7%), Philippines (6.3%), Cambodia (5.4%), Vietnam (3.5%), Thailand (2.6%) and Indonesia (2.0%). The prevalence of TCAM use of patients in biomedical health facilities was generally high such as cancer (56%-84.5%), medical patients and/or patients with chronic conditions (22.7%-66.7%), diabetic patients (47.8%-56%), asthmatic patients (27.2%-41%), and HIV patients (31%-78%). TCAM is used by substantial proportions of the general and clinical population, but differences in study design and methodological limitations make it difficult to compare prevalence estimates.