Table 3 Prevalence, types and reasons for the use of complementary and alternative therapies among the respondents
Variable | Frequency (N = 158) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
Ever-user of CAT | 111 | 70.3 |
Current user of CAT | 86 | 54.4 |
Types of CATs used for dysmenorrhea | ||
Bed rest | 113 | 71.5 |
Hot compress/heating pad | 75 | 47.5 |
Massage | 68 | 43.0 |
Hydrotherapy | 42 | 26.6 |
Natural herbs/remedies/supplements | 16 | 10.1 |
Exercise/yoga/meditation | 15 | 9.5 |
Others | 6 | 3.8 |
Reasons for using CATs | ||
To reduce the need for analgesics | 97 | 61.4 |
Efficacy | 59 | 37.3 |
Based on recommendation | 52 | 32.9 |
Safety | 33 | 20.9 |
Availability | 27 | 17.1 |
Cost | 10 | 6.3 |
Effectiveness of CATs compared to analgesics | ||
Less effective | 47 | 29.7 |
Equally effective | 36 | 22.8 |
More effective | 14 | 8.9 |
I don’t know | 60 | 38.0 |
Use of analgesic for dysmenorrhea | 64 | 40.5 |