HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR FOR COMMON ILLNESS AMONG ADULT ORANG ASLI IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Orang Asli peoples have lived in Peninsular Malaysia for at least 5,000 years, making them the region's oldest population. Orang Asli has the worst health conditions among the population in Malaysia. Due to their superstitions that illnesses are associated with supernatural forces rather than scientifically explainable natural one, has a profound impact on their health-seeking behavior, which now places more of a focus on traditional and explicitly spiritual healing methods rather than on treatments that have been shown to be effective via scientific research. The aim of this research was to investigate the health seeking behavior among adult Orang Asli living in Cameron Highlands. METHODOLOGY: Quantitative research was carried out involving 225 adult Orang Asli (n = 225) from 11 villages in Cameron Highlands. RESULT: It was found that out of 225 adult Orang Asli interviewed, 132 people (58.7%) had appropriate health seeking behavior while 93 others (41.3%) did not display an appropriate health seeking behavior. It was also found that the health seeking behavior of the adult Orang Asli was associated with gender, age, occupation, distance from health facility, current health status as well as the severity of the disease. It was found that the majority of the adult Orang Asli who do seek healthcare service, are more inclined to seek medical treatment preferring medical doctors (including specialists) that are available at hospitals and clinics. The researcher also managed to gain some valuable knowledge in terms of reasons for not seeking treatment, medication or advice among the adult Orang Asli living in Cameron Highlands. Work commitment, transportation issues, perceived inadequate knowledge of the healthcare professionals in treating the patients, do not require treatment because can heal by meditation and not being sick enough to seek healthcare service are among the reasons identified for the refusal of Orang Asli in seeking healthcare service. CONCLUSION: As the aim of this research was set to study the healthcare seeking behavior for common illnesses among adult Orang Asli in Cameron Highlands, it was revealed that health seeking behavior of the adult Orang Asli was associated with gender, age, economic status, distance from health facility, current health status as well as the severity of the disease. Keywords: Health utilization, aboriginal, acute illness, knowledge, treatment, advice, healthcare professionals, beliefs