Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers
Traditional healing is a common practice in low and middle income countries such as Malaysia. Eighty percent of Malaysians consult traditional healers or “bomoh” at some time in their life for health-related issues. The purpose of our study was to explore why breast cancer patients visit traditional...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Breast Cancer |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/689168 |
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| _version_ | 1832550252583845888 |
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| author | Mazanah Muhamad Sharan Merriam Norhasmilia Suhami |
| author_facet | Mazanah Muhamad Sharan Merriam Norhasmilia Suhami |
| author_sort | Mazanah Muhamad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional healing is a common practice in low and middle income countries such as Malaysia. Eighty percent of Malaysians consult traditional healers or “bomoh” at some time in their life for health-related issues. The purpose of our study was to explore why breast cancer patients visit traditional healers. This is a qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with 11 cancer survivors who sought both traditional and Western medicine. The findings revealed the following reasons for which patients seek traditional healers: (1) recommendation from family and friends, (2) sanction from family, (3) perceived benefit and compatibility, (4) healer credibility, and (5) reservation with Western medicine and system delay. These factors work together and are strongly influenced by the Malaysian cultural context. The issue with the Western health system is common in a developing country with limited health facilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0f99021519a743229dc37cb55644b71a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-3170 2090-3189 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Breast Cancer |
| spelling | doaj-art-0f99021519a743229dc37cb55644b71a2025-02-03T06:07:12ZengWileyInternational Journal of Breast Cancer2090-31702090-31892012-01-01201210.1155/2012/689168689168Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional HealersMazanah Muhamad0Sharan Merriam1Norhasmilia Suhami2Cancer Resource and Education Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Lifelong Education, Administration and Policy, College of Education, University of Georgia, 850 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30602, USAInstitute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaTraditional healing is a common practice in low and middle income countries such as Malaysia. Eighty percent of Malaysians consult traditional healers or “bomoh” at some time in their life for health-related issues. The purpose of our study was to explore why breast cancer patients visit traditional healers. This is a qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with 11 cancer survivors who sought both traditional and Western medicine. The findings revealed the following reasons for which patients seek traditional healers: (1) recommendation from family and friends, (2) sanction from family, (3) perceived benefit and compatibility, (4) healer credibility, and (5) reservation with Western medicine and system delay. These factors work together and are strongly influenced by the Malaysian cultural context. The issue with the Western health system is common in a developing country with limited health facilities.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/689168 |
| spellingShingle | Mazanah Muhamad Sharan Merriam Norhasmilia Suhami Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers International Journal of Breast Cancer |
| title | Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers |
| title_full | Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers |
| title_fullStr | Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers |
| title_short | Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers |
| title_sort | why breast cancer patients seek traditional healers |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/689168 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mazanahmuhamad whybreastcancerpatientsseektraditionalhealers AT sharanmerriam whybreastcancerpatientsseektraditionalhealers AT norhasmiliasuhami whybreastcancerpatientsseektraditionalhealers |