Parental experiences and perceptions of using traditional medicine and biomedical services for their children’s health: A qualitative study in Indonesia

Abstract Background: Traditional Medicine (TM) is a culturally-rooted healthcare practice, and its use, including for treating illnesses among children, has been reported in many countries. Globally, Indonesia is in the top 10 countries with the highest child mortality rates. However, TM usage for treating illnesses among children in Indonesia has received minimal academic attention. Objective: This study aimed to understand parental beliefs, knowledge, views, and perceptions of TM and the impact on the use of TM and biomedical services in treating illnesses in children in Belu district, Indonesia. Methods: A qualitative design using in-depth interviews was used in this study. Participants were parents with real-life experiences using TM to treat their children’s illnesses. They were recruited using the snowballing sampling technique. A thematic data analysis was performed and guided by a qualitative data analysis framework. Results: Findings were grouped into four main themes: (i) parental beliefs, knowledge, views, and perceptions of TM, (ii) the influence of these factors on parental use of TM and biomedical services for treating children’s illnesses, (iii) social and cultural influences on the use of TM and biomedical services among their children, and (iv) the impact of the sole use of TM on children. Conclusion: The findings show that the use of TM is a common practice in Belu, however, evidence suggests that child mortality remains high in the setting. Thus, there is a need for the development of collaborative models of healthcare programs and service delivery fostering mutual respect and understanding between traditional healers and healthcare professionals.