Take a pill or use a herb? A dilemma of students from the DEL University in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Tereza Vejvodová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This survey sought to document the traditional medicine products which are common used for treatment among students enrolled at DEL university and villagers of Balige town in North Sumatra province, Indonesia. Specific objectives were to determine prevalence, preferences and factors associated with traditional medicine and the availability of medicine in target area. Data used in this study were collected during the three-week summer school organized by CULS and DEL Institute of Teknologi in August 2015. Data were collected via semi-structured questionnaires complemented by open interviews with selected respondents. Survey included 35 respondents from DEL and 30 respondents from Balige town. Furtermore we conducted survey on the local street market in Balige and interviews with traditional healer, general practioner and pharmacist. In total, we documented 81 medicine products among students. Thereof 54.32% was conventional origin and 45.68% was biological. From biological products we determined 22 species of plants which are somehow used for health. Rest of the biological products are animal-based, minerals or final traditional medicine products containing unknown composition (Karo oil or Jamu). Most common health issues treated by traditional medicine are cold, cough, fever, minor injuries, tooth pain, body pain or as a dietary supplements for immunity support. About frequency of use traditional medicine among students, 88.57% use TM only seasonally or if some specific problem occurred and only 11.43% stated that they use TM regularly throughout the year. More than half use TM concurrently with conventional medicine with that they rather prefer herbal medicine than chemical drugs. Results from Balige showed similiar attitudes. Only 16.67% of respondents use TM very often. The majority use TM only sometimes together with modern medicine and relatively large part (36.67%) never use TM or herbal products. In conclusion use of herbs and TM is not already widespread thanks to rising of pharmaceutical industries and loss of sources of medicinal plants in target area. According to our survey people more prefer easily accessible and more efficient conventional medicine from pharmacy.

Keywords

Indonesia, Conventional medicine, Traditional medicine

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Sustainable Development in the Tropics and Subtropics