Abstract:
The policy and strategic direction of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine expects people to have knowledge and understanding in using medicinal plants for self-care. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the use of medicinal plants in primary health care and the related factors among the elderly. The sample was 261 people aged 60 years and over living in Wang Nam Yen district, Sa Kaeo province. Data collection was done through interviewing and a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Odds Ratio and multiple logistic regression. The research findings revealed that the proportion of the elderly using medicinal plants in primary health care was 49.8%. 69.6% of the participants used them on skin fungal infection. Each part of the medicinal plants was mostly used in an appropriate way; however, only 26.0% were used corresponding with the suggested methods for primary health care. After controlling for the effects of all other variables, the predictors of the use of medicinal plants in primary health care were the access to medicinal plants in primary health care (Adj. OR = 7.00, 95%CI = 3.33-14.62), acquaintances' use of medicinal plants in primary health care (Adj. OR = 3.25, 95%CI = 1.65-6.40), family members' and relatives' use of medicinal plants in primary health care (Adj. OR = 2.21, 95%CI = 1.20-4.09) and knowledge about medicinal plants in primary health care (Adj. OR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.11-4.16). The predicting model correctly classified 77.8%. The findings led to the recommendations that promoting the growing of plants to increase the access, setting up family and community network to share the experience in herbal usage, and also giving knowledge about medicinal plants in primary health care should be done to promote the use of medicinal plants.