Out-of-pocket expenditure on in tradition healthcare practices other than allopathy and ayush: A community-based study

Background: Out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPE) within the healthcare domain constitute a considerable financial burden for individuals and families, especially in economically disadvantaged environments. Although extensive research has been devoted to both allopathic and AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) medical systems, there exists a relative paucity of scholarly attention towards traditional healing modalities that lie outside the purview of these established frameworks, collectively termed "In Tradition" healthcare. These modalities, encompassing folk remedies, spiritual healing, and ethnomedicine, continue to be prevalent across India, yet they are notably deficient in rigorous financial evaluation. A thorough comprehension of the OOPE associated with In-tradition healthcare is imperative for assessing its economic viability and its ramifications on healthcare policy formulation. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was executed in the Varanasi district employing systematic random sampling methodologies to evaluate OOPE for In-tradition healthcare in comparison to AYUSH and allopathic approaches. Data were meticulously gathered through structured interviews with 566 participants and analyzed utilizing SPSS version 28.0. Median OOPE values across various health conditions were contrasted employing the chi-square statistical test to ascertain significance. Results: The findings of the study revealed that In-tradition healthcare manifested lower OOPE for conditions such as mosquito-borne diseases (₹500 versus ₹1900, p=0.017) and accident-related injuries (₹660 versus ₹6050). Nevertheless, health conditions including high blood sugar and gastrointestinal disorders presented higher or comparable OOPE when utilizing In-tradition methods. No statistically significant variance in expenditures was detected for ailments related to fever, respiratory issues, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular morbidities. Overall annual median OOPE on In Tradition Health Care is less than the contemporary health care. Conclusion: In-tradition healthcare represents a prevalent yet inadequately researched facet of the healthcare framework in India. This investigation emphasizes its financial implications, revealing economic advantage. A very high proportion of family (32.7%) showing OOPE on health is a worry some for our nation.