Utilización de la llamada “medicina tradicional” en distintos niveles socioeconómicos y educacionales

Abstract

This study identified the use of “Traditional Medicine” (TM) by a population with different socioeconomic and educational levels, and described the health’s informal agents involved. Adults from 280 homes in the select area were chosen to answer a previously validated questionnaire. For the analysis we assigned an alpha 0.01. The group studied was between 18 and 82 years of age, with a mean of 41 years (60% men and 40% women). The socioeconomic distribution respect level was 45.4% in C2, 43.2' o in C3 and 11.4% in level D. A complete scholarity was present in 60.7% of the group. Almost 3 each 4 person had some degree of trust to MT; and 47.5% was using or had used it. The most popular agents were homeopaths (39.8%), and “yerbateros” (sellers of fodder grass) (37.6%). Family tradition was the reason for the use of “MT” in 56.4' o of the group. There was evidence of a greater usage of “MT” in the lowest educational (p<0.001) and socioeconomic (p=0.005) levels.This study indicated the use of “MT” is a fact, and a real alternative in use by this population, with clear cultural and family tradition influences.