Proponent/Claimant
Abstract
Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) has soaredsignificantly in the recent years and current evidence suggest that thereis a widespread trend for decades. This study intended to discern theknowledge, attitudes, and patterns of use towards the use of CAM. Thestudy utilized a quantitative descriptive survey design and relevant datato the aforementioned aims were collected through self-madequestionnaires from the barangays of Cabintan (n=47), Lake Danao(n=50), Tongonan (n=29), Patag (n=46) respectively and all werelocated in the highlands of Ormoc. Eleven classifications of CAM werelisted as utilized by the respondents. Leaf extract (decoction),traditional or conventional massage (hilot), and Herbal medicine/tabletswere the most conventional types of CAM across all studied areas,contributing 68% (n= 117), 72% (n= 124), and 44% (n=76)respectively. Moreover, their rampant usage was primarily due to theinfluence from friends or family members (36%, n=62) and they used itto treat health problems (40%, n= 69). Amongst the diverse diseasesequated with the use of CAM, cough (72%, n= 124) and fever (67%,n=115) were the most alleviated. Generally, most respondentsdisplayed an overall positive attitude of all forms of CAM documentedin this study in all of the surveyed barangays. Hence, present studyrecognizes that Complementary and Alternative Medicine plays a vitalhealth care role amongst the residents in upland Ormoc.