ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2020
Traditional medicine use in Timor-Leste.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Aging in Southeast Asia and Japan: Challenges and opportunities.Geriatrics & gerontology international · 2025Review
- Traditional medicine use and associated factors in chronic patients in Jamalpur, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Barriers of Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Among Healthcare Professionals in Timor-Leste: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Clinical and translational science · 2025Article
- Animal-and mineral-based medicines in Gansu-Ningxia-inner Mongolia region, P.R. China: a cross-cultural ethnobiological assessment.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundTraditional medicine use is common amongst peoples in developing nations. Timor-Leste is no exception. However little is known about the prevalence, pattern, satisfaction with, cost or type of traditional medicine used in Timor-Leste. This study aims to describe the prevalence, nature and basic demographic factors associated with contemporary traditional medicine use in Timor-Leste.
methodsA structured interview questionnaire was administered in Tetun to 50 surgical patients, 50 internal medicine patients, 50 hospital staff and 50 hospital visitors at Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares, Timor-Leste's major referral hospital.
results60% of respondents reported having used traditional medicine; 32% within the last year. The greatest use was amongst surgical patients, the least amongst hospital staff. The frequency of traditional medicine use was comparable amongst all groups regardless of size of community, residence or level of education. Traditional medicine use in Timor-Leste is sufficiently common to represent part of the cultural norm. Factors described as promoting traditional medicine use included cost, limited access to other medical services and a belief that traditional medicine was free of side effects. Approximately half the patients reported using traditional medicine for their current illness and many for chronic illness in conjunction with conventional medicine.
conclusionTraditional medicine use is common in Timor-Leste. Medical practitioners need to be cognizant of the common and potentially concomitant use of traditional medicine alongside conventional medicine when treating patients in Timor-Leste.
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