Integrative Medicine in Timor-Leste: A Report of Prevalence and Practice of Timorese Medicine Usage Alongside Conventional Health Care

Introduction: The use of traditional medicine is especially relevant in low- and middle-income countries. In Timor-Leste, treatment options consist of free health care provided by the National Health System, private clinics or pharmacies, self-initiated treatment, and other informal systems such as Traditional Timorese Medicine or religious healing. Health care utilization and associated factors influencing health care decisions need to be investigated further to inform policy and spending decisions.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study screened communities for utilization of Traditional Timorese Medicine and conventional health care using an adapted version of the International-Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire in Tetum (one of the official languages of Timor-Leste). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.Results: On average, 73% of those surveyed reported use of Traditional Timorese Medicine, with 44% using it in combination with conventional medical care. Individuals reporting the combined use of both systems were higher than those reporting use of either Traditional Timorese Medicine (29%) or National Health System (13%) alone. Of the treatment modalities surveyed, massage was the most common, with reported use by 50% of Timorese, while patients' "belief in the treatment" was the most commonly reported factor influencing their health care decisions.Conclusion: Overall, a vast majority of Timorese rely on Traditional Timorese Medicine, and a formal model of Integrative health care delivery services is warranted to accommodate treatment preferences in this population.