Ayush systems play a vital role in India’s preventive and promotive healthcare, offering holistic solutions for immunity enhancement. Despite increasing usage, public understanding and behavioural patterns related to Ayush products remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the use of Ayush products for immunity enhancement among adults in India. A descriptive cross-sectional online survey was conducted across India from June to October 2024, involving 514 adults selected through a hybrid sampling technique combining stratified and convenience sampling to ensure demographic diversity. Data was collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, which included the validated Immune Status Questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee, and informed digital consent was secured from all participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 28.0, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found high awareness (95.5%) of Ayush, with healthcare professionals and family networks as key sources of information. Attitudes were predominantly positive, with 84.3% believing in effectiveness of Ayush products for immunity enhancement. Current usage was reported by 77.1%, primarily of Unani and Ayurvedic products. Usage was significantly associated with education and socio-economic status. While 44.1% participants rated their immune status as good, no statistically significant association was observed between Ayush product usage and perceived immune status. The findings highlight widespread acceptance and use of Ayush products for immunity enhancement in India. However, further research using longitudinal designs and objective biomarkers is needed to validate their impact on immune health.
Sheeza et al. (Thu,) studied this question.