Use of medicinal plants among people attending two reference hospitals in Cusco, Peru

Authors

  • Gladys Oblitas Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad de Cusco. Cusco, Perú. Médico salubrista.
  • Gustavo Hernández-Córdova Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad de Cusco. Cusco, Perú. estudiante de Medicina.
  • Analí Chiclla Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad de Cusco. Cusco, Perú. estudiante de Biología.
  • María Artich-Barrientos Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad de Cusco. Cusco, Perú. estudiante de Medicina.
  • Lucero Ccorihuamán-Cusitito Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad de Cusco. Cusco, Perú. estudiante de Medicina.
  • Franco Romaní Oficina General de Investigación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú. Departamento Académico de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú. médico cirujano.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2013.301.159

Keywords:

Plants, medicinal, Medicine, traditional, Hospitals, Peru

Abstract

In order to determine the frequency and characteristics of the use of medicinal plants in patients from two third-level hospitals in the city of Cusco, a cross-sectional study was conducted between August and September 2011. For data collection, an instrument was built and validated through experts’ judgment. The sample included 250 people selected in a non-probabilistic way. 83.2 and 75.3% informed having had used medicinal plants sometime during their lives and in the last month, respectively; additionally, 85.7 indicated that they wished their doctor would have prescribed them medicinal plants. Their most frequent uses include digestive problems (62.4%) as well as urinary (42.4%) and respiratory problems (40.4%). We conclude that the use of medicinal plants is widely spread among users of two hospitals in the city of Cusco. Utilization patterns show that patients wished the physicians of the health system prescribed medicinal plants in their consults.

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Published

2014-02-07

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

1.
Oblitas G, Hernández-Córdova G, Chiclla A, Artich-Barrientos M, Ccorihuamán-Cusitito L, Romaní F. Use of medicinal plants among people attending two reference hospitals in Cusco, Peru. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2014 Feb. 7 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];30(1). Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/159

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