METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in Malaysia in 2015. A total of 6,207 respondents aged ≥18 years were included in this study. The associations of sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors with the utilization of the three T&CM service categories (traditional Malay medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and other T&CM) were examined using three separate logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: The prevalence of recognized T&CM service utilization in the last 12 months was 19.3%, with 15.0% for traditional Malay medicine, 3.9% for traditional Chinese medicine, and 1.5% for other T&CM. The determinants of traditional Malay medicine service utilization were female sex; age range of 18-29 years; married or widowed/divorced status; Malay, Indigenous or other ethnicities; high household income; and being overweight/obese. The determinants of traditional Chinese medicine service utilization were the age range of 30-49 years, urban residential location, Chinese ethnicity, and adequate fruit and vegetable intake. No specific determinants were identified for other T&CM.
CONCLUSION: This study provided novel evidence of a strong ethnocultural ownership towards traditional medicine. User profiles were distinctively different between varied T&CM services. Customized approaches to regulate, develop, and institutionalize specific T&CM services are crucial for fulfilling the unique needs of diverse communities.