So V; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. WePeB6010.
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of the use of herbs as a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the health of HIV-infected patients in Chinese communities; to determine the patterns and reasons for this use; and to examine associations between predisposing variables and the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) for HIV. METHODS: The sample was drawn from the Institute of Infectious Diseases in Guangzhou, China, the Taipei Municipal Venereal Disease Centre in Taipei, Taiwan, ROC and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong, SAR. A survey divided into the major sections of HIV history, Chinese Herbal Medicine use and demographics was translated into Chinese and completed by the participants under supervision by the investigator. RESULTS: The prevalence of the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine for HIV by participants was 14.3%. Most participants did not know Chinese Herbal Medicine was used for HIV or did not want to interfere with current therapies. Those who did use Chinese Herbal Medicine for HIV were prompted to do so of their own volition or by a friend, and most used it to cure the infection or to enhance their immune system's function. Participant use of Chinese Herbal Medicine for HIV was statistically significantly related to the use of other Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, level of education, income and sexual orientation. CONCLUSION: Participants who used Chinese Herbal Medicine for HIV were more likely to be homosexual, to have tried other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and to be more educated and affluent. The Chinese community appeared open to the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine: 43.2% of participants were willing to try CHM for HIV in the future, 24.2% of patients have tried Chinese Herbal Medicine before and 14.3% of patients had actually used it for HIV therapy.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- China
- Complementary Therapies
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hong Kong
- Humans
- Medicine, Chinese Traditional
- Prevalence
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Taiwan
- utilization
Other ID:
UI: 102259913
From Meeting Abstracts