Traditional Alternative Healing Practices for Sick Children in Cambodia

Authors*: Tep Navy1, Varun Kumar1, Randy Rockney2, Tony Alario2

Affiliations: 1Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia; 2Brown University, Providence, RI, USA*The authors have all documented that they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose or COIs to resolve.

Abstract #754358

Background: Societal and cultural factors can affect certain health-related behaviors, especially in regards to alternative therapies. It can be beneficial to understand the specific traditional healing practices used for a particular culture when providing allopathic health care to patients from that culture.

Results: 100 children (22.8%) were given traditional alternative therapies prior to seeking allopathic health care.

• 37% of those who used alternative therapies used more than one type.

• The most common therapy was spitting on the child by a traditional healer followed by coining and magic water.

• Alternative medicines were used in 11.9%, of which slightly more than half were oral herbal mixtures and the rest topical oils or balms.

• Use of traditional alternative care correlated with older age of child (p=0.001), increased travel time to hospital (p=0.001), and increased likelihood of delay more than two weeks in seeking hospital care (p=0.001)

Methods: A survey was administered to caretakers of 439 children during a three week study period. Questions related to demographics, perceptions of their child’s illness, and prior health services obtained including types of traditional alternative medical therapies used if applicable.

Conclusion: Traditional alternative therapies are commonly used for children in Cambodia, even among those who end up seeking allopathic care. Most of the practices seem benign but use of alternative care was associated with delay in seeking hospital care.

Objectives: To describe the traditional alternative healing practices used in Cambodian children prior to presenting to an allopathic Cambodian pediatric hospital.

Angkor Hospital for Children is a charity pediatric teaching hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Burned leg of a child after traditional healing by

spitting

Magic charms tied around child’s neck for

healing

Coining on the back produces linear bruises which can mimic

abuse

Round bruises caused by cupping on the body of a sick

child