2023, Vol. 11, Issue 4, Part B

author(s)
Md. Rafiqul Islam and Dr. Abdur Rashid

abstract
Medicinal Plants (MP) and Traditional Medicine (TM) have long been practised in Bangladesh. The descriptive type of cross-sectional survey study has conducted to evaluate the KAP on MP and TM in Bangladesh with a sample size of 2535. A face-to-face interview questionnaire has been used for data collection in 8 clusters in Bangladesh. Both descriptive and inferential statistics have been used for data analysis with a level of significance set at < .05 and < .001. The research found the Mean ± SD age 39.07±12.119 years, followed by 87.6% Muslim, 78.8% married, 28.8% up to primary level education, 27% occupation was housewife, 43.3% monthly income was 10,000-20,000 BDT, and 41.1% respondents perceived health status was good. The research also found that 28.5% age group 18-25 years, 39.2% age group 36-65 years, 46.7% of males, and 20.9% of females of the respondents had opined that MP is effective in the treatment of illness. Out of all 19.3% age group 18-35 years, 30.1% age group 36-65 years, 33.1% of male, and 16.8% of female respondents had also opined that TM is effective in the treatment of illness. As a whole 22.7% age group 18-35 years, 32.6% age group 36-65 years, 36.5% of males, and 18.8% of female respondents believed that TM is well accepted by the community in Bangladesh. In conclusion, the research will bring to the fore the importance of the Traditional Health Care System and expand knowledge on the current debates on the efficacy, safety, and reliability of MP and TM as well as its possible mainstreaming into modern health care.