Use of complementary and alternative medicine for children: a parents' perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to detect the frequency and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used for children and to explore parental motivating factors for using CAM for their children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study that involved 462 families selected through a multistage cluster-sampling technique covering Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. The sample was selected from 40 clusters, distributed proportionally according to the size of the population in the catchment area of primary health care centres (PHCCs). A structured questionnaire that contains items fulfilling the research objectives was used to collect data by research assistants.


RESULTS
The study included 926 parents, comprising 351 fathers and 575 mothers; 37.3% of them reported the use of CAM for their children including reciting the Quran, honey and Ferula asafoetida (26.1%, 21.5% and 18.8%, respectively). CAM was used six times higher for children of parents using CAM for themselves than children of parents who did not use CAM themselves (odds ratio (OR)=6.03, 3.9-9.37). Multivariate logistic regression showed that parental use of CAM (OR=3.0, 2.2-4.0), keeping CAM remedies at home (OR=2.3, 1.8-3.1), perceived success of CAM in practice (OR=1.8, 1.3-2.4) and preference of use of natural materials (OR=1.7, 1.2-2.5) were independent predictors of use of CAM for children.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, around one-third of the parents used CAM for their children. Quran (Muslims' holy book) was the most common CAM type used for children. Parents' use of CAM for themselves is the most important predictor of its use for children. An in-depth study to investigate CAM use for specific diseases in children is recommended.
Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ashry59@yahoo.co.uk.
Ashry
A
Gad
Eiad
E
Al-Faris
Noura
N
Al-Rowais
Mohamed
M
Al-Rukban
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
CAM in children; Honey therapy; Parents’ children; Religion therapy