Religiosity and CAM Utilization Among Latin American Immigrants

Existing literature on Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) utilization has shown that older age, greater education and higher income are significant determinants of usage. However, the relationship between CAM utilization and other lifestyle descriptors such as religiosity remains understudied. This study assessed the association between religiosity and CAM usage. Questionnaire data were collected from 250 Latin American immigrant adults attending a community clinic in the US. Utilization of mainstream and traditional CAM were adapted from recent research. Religiosity was measured with a widely used religiosity instrument and measured major domains of personal, non-denominational religiosity. Religiosity's impact on CAM utilization was assessed using linear regression analyses and controlled for major demographics and potentially confounding influences. The sample was mostly female, 39 years old, and had been residing in the US for an average of 3.1 years. Regression analyses revealed a significant relationship between religiosity and traditional (p<.05), mainstream (p<.05) and total CAM (p<.05) utilization. The observed association between religiosity and CAM therapies allows health based needs of the Latin American immigrant community to be addressed on both an individual and large-scale population levels. First, health-care providers will be able to better assess a patient's likelihood of participating in alternative therapies before making treatment recommendations. Second, as health-care administrators plan and revise local and national health-care policy, information that contributes to an understanding of a population's use of alternative therapies may contribute to decisions affecting immigrant health.