Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005

Objective: to explore health resources chosen by Medellín’s residents when they feel ill and the reasons why they decide to use Colombian folk medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine resources. Methods: this research was based on the premises shared by the majority of the qualitative met...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Luz Stella Alvarez C
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2007-08-01
Series:Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
Subjects:
Online Access:http://aprendeenlinea.udea.edu.co/revistas/index.php/fnsp/article/view/87/104
_version_ 1818240694402154496
author Luz Stella Alvarez C
author_facet Luz Stella Alvarez C
author_sort Luz Stella Alvarez C
collection DOAJ
description Objective: to explore health resources chosen by Medellín’s residents when they feel ill and the reasons why they decide to use Colombian folk medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine resources. Methods: this research was based on the premises shared by the majority of the qualitative methods, and specially by two methodologies: the Grounded Theory (GT) and Rapid Assessment Process (RAP). Forty-six people from various social classes, who were affiliated with different health insurance companies as well as uninsured were interviewed. Interviews were carried out from July to September 2005. Results: the study found that many people, especially those with low or very low income seek Colombian folk medicine practices resources when they feel sick. These practices and their practitioners have taken new names to adapt themselves to new tendencies in medicine but they actually keep the traditional characteristics of Colombian folk medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and bioenergetics exercised by physicians licensed from certified universities are sought mostly by middle and upper class people, especially by those with a high educational level. These patients have in common that they feel discomfort with the biologist emphasis of Western medicine so they seek an integral treatment integrating body, mind, and spirit.
first_indexed 2024-12-12T13:17:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e30abfd7e6c244d286680e042764c128
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0120-386X
language Spanish
last_indexed 2024-12-12T13:17:31Z
publishDate 2007-08-01
publisher Universidad de Antioquia
record_format Article
series Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
spelling doaj.art-e30abfd7e6c244d286680e042764c1282022-12-22T00:23:23ZspaUniversidad de AntioquiaRevista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública0120-386X2007-08-01252100109Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005Luz Stella Alvarez CObjective: to explore health resources chosen by Medellín’s residents when they feel ill and the reasons why they decide to use Colombian folk medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine resources. Methods: this research was based on the premises shared by the majority of the qualitative methods, and specially by two methodologies: the Grounded Theory (GT) and Rapid Assessment Process (RAP). Forty-six people from various social classes, who were affiliated with different health insurance companies as well as uninsured were interviewed. Interviews were carried out from July to September 2005. Results: the study found that many people, especially those with low or very low income seek Colombian folk medicine practices resources when they feel sick. These practices and their practitioners have taken new names to adapt themselves to new tendencies in medicine but they actually keep the traditional characteristics of Colombian folk medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and bioenergetics exercised by physicians licensed from certified universities are sought mostly by middle and upper class people, especially by those with a high educational level. These patients have in common that they feel discomfort with the biologist emphasis of Western medicine so they seek an integral treatment integrating body, mind, and spirit.http://aprendeenlinea.udea.edu.co/revistas/index.php/fnsp/article/view/87/104complementary and alternative medicinetraditional medicinequalitative researchhealth seeking behavio
spellingShingle Luz Stella Alvarez C
Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005
Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública
complementary and alternative medicine
traditional medicine
qualitative research
health seeking behavio
title Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005
title_full Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005
title_fullStr Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005
title_full_unstemmed Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005
title_short Use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in Medellín, 2005
title_sort use of complementary and alternative medicine and folk medicine in medellin 2005
topic complementary and alternative medicine
traditional medicine
qualitative research
health seeking behavio
url http://aprendeenlinea.udea.edu.co/revistas/index.php/fnsp/article/view/87/104
work_keys_str_mv AT luzstellaalvarezc useofcomplementaryandalternativemedicineandfolkmedicineinmedellin2005