Race/ethnicity and women's use of complementary and alternative medicine: Results of a national survey

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) varies by race/ethnicity. Little is known, however, about how other social factors interact with race/ethnicity to influence CAM use. The current study examines CAM use among non-Hispanic White, African-American, Mexican-American, and Chinese-American women and explores how social factors are associated with CAM use among diverse groups of women. Using national survey data of women in four racial/ethnic populations, this study: 1) assesses the use of any one of eleven CAM domains, professionalized CAM domains, and non-professionalized CAM in the previous year; and 2) evaluates the inter- and intra-group effects of socioeconomic status, social networks, and acculturation on CAM use. Although minority groups were the dominant users for a few specific CAM modalities, White women were the most likely users of professionalized, and non-professionalized CAM. The effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and social networks on women's CAM use in the previous year differed by race/ethnicity and by type of CAM. The effects of SES on women's use of CAM were greater for non-Hispanic White women compared to SES effects among minority women. Social networks were more strongly associated with utilization of non-professionalized CAM and among White women compared to Black or Mexican American women. Acculturation was associated with a lower likelihood of using professionalized CAM among Mexican-American women. Study findings highlight the importance of: clearly defined CAM measures, specific racial/ethnic models of CAM utilization, and contextualizing medical pluralism within social factors.