Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children who have no chronic disease

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate complementary and alternative methods of medicine, determine the frequencies of usage of these methods and investigate the factors which have an impact on their usage.

Material and methods: The study was conducted between October, the 15(th) and November, the 15(th) 2012. Approval was obtained from the local ethics committee (08.10.2012/732). The study form prepared was applied to the mothers of the children who presented to our general outpatient clinic and had no chronic disease. The data were recorded in SPSS for Windows v.16 program. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U and logistic regression analyses were applied. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Two hundred and six children were included in the study. Complementary and alternative medicine was used in 83% of the patients. Wearing an evil eye (45%) bead and prayer (35%) to protect from the evil eye were the most commonly used methods. The most common medical conditions which caused to use of complementary and alternative medicine included anemia, diarrhea, constipation and cough. Belief-based application were being used in 73% of the patients and herbal methods were being used in 57%. In 18% of the patients, interventional methods including cutting had been performed. No difference was found between the patients in whom these methods were used and not used in terms of familial income, education levels of the parents, family type and residence (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Complementary and alternative methods of medicine are applied substantially frequently in children. Physicians should have information about these methods in terms of their effects and side effects and warn families and especially mothers about potential risks.