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 |
CAT Complementary and alternative therapy.