Attitudes, beliefs, and self-use of Kabasura Kudineer among urban and rural population in Tamil Nadu, India: A comparative cross-sectional study

CONTEXT: During an earlier outbreak of dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV) and swine flu in Tamil Nadu, India, Kabasura Kudineer and Nilavembu Kudineer were used to control the febrile episodes. No research is conducted in the past to understand the attitude and beliefs of people towards using Kabasura Kudineer as a means to improve immunity in people, especially in Tamil Nadu, the birthplace of Siddha medicine which led the researcher to conduct the study. AIMS: The researcher in the present paper aims to understand the attitude, belief and self-use of Kabasura Kudineer among people in Tamil Nadu, India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among various people in Tamilnadu, India wherein data was collected from 200 participants. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A cross-sectional study involving explanatory/descriptive research design was considered for the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: For the analysis of collected data statistical package for SPSS software version 25.0 was used. RESULTS: The urban participants who participated in the study were 80.5% and the rural participants were 19.5%. The significant P value (0.002) indicated that people use kabasura kudineer because allopathic medicine is less effective medicine and the significant P value (0.001) shows that kabasura kudineer is taken as a self-medication among Tamil Nadu people. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study revealed the better empowerment of people in the select region towards the use of Kabasura Kudineer.