Traditional Chinese and Mongolian Medicine Utilization Among Hypertensive Older Adults: Community Health Institutions, Hohhot, China

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM) systems treat hypertension in community health institutions within China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. This paper aims to investigate the use and influence of TCM and TMM among hypertensive older Chinese adults receiving treatment at these community health institutions. A cross-sectional survey method was used in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. A total of 1,499 completed questionnaires were collected from eight community health service centers in four municipal districts of Hohhot between May and June 2022. In all, 662 (44.2%) respondents had used community hypertension treatment services in the last year. Of the 662 respondents, 213 (32.2%) used TCM hypertension treatment services, and 64 (9.7%) used TMM treatment services less frequently and at a lower cost. Chinese herbal medicine (63.5%) and Mongolian herbal medicine (74%) were used more than other treatments. Cognition, attitude, and service provision were the main factors that affected service utilization. Ethnicity also had an impact on TMM’s service utilization. Older Chinese adults with hypertension did not fully utilize the TCM and TMM services provided. Further promotion and expansion of traditional medicine are needed from relevant government and health institutions.