Abstract
Objectives : To clarify the acceptance and pattern of the Malay traditional and modern medicine in a northern Malaysian rural community and their perceptions towards these medical systems.Methodology : A structured questionnaire survey of Malay residents was conducted in Sedaka, a village in Northern Peninsular Malaysia. The questionnaire requested socio-demographic data, and con sultations with medical practitioners and Malay traditional healers (bomoh). Two focus group discus sions were conducted to explore the reasons for using or not using modern or traditional medical system.Results : 383 respondents answered the questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 28.5 ± 7.4 (SD). Almost everyone (96.1%) had ever consulted bomoh. There was no significant association between consultation and socio-democraphic data. In recent consultation, 73.5% received only modern treatment, 8.8% went bomoh only, and 17.6% consulted both medical practitioners and bomoh. In focus group discussions, several reasons were revealed that people prefer to utilize traditional or modern medical system.Discussion It was clarified that many rural Malays utilized modern system, as still having traditional belief. Rural Malays perceived that the traditional medical system covered overall matters, while the modern medical system were partial. The group utilizing the traditional medical system also consulted other medical systems, if needed, whereas the group utilizing the modern medical system visited only modern system. Greater cooperation of the traditional and modern medical systems-as shown by the emer gency of integrated medicine elsewhere-may bring about improved healthcare for the rural community with higher level of patient satisfaction and community participation.
