Child health advocacy in Saudi Arabia: Traditional medicine as a model

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to describe the opportunities and challenges faced by health advocates in Kingdon of Saudi Arabia (KSA) regarding traditional medicine practices, which commonly result in health issues affecting children in the community. METHOD: A literature review was conducted of all articles identified in PubMed with the following keywords: alternative medicine, traditional medicine, KSA, and advocacy. No articles from other countries with similar cultural backgrounds were excluded, and recommendation from authors were listed at the end of the article. RESULTS: Traditional medicine, traditional herbal medications, and spiritual treatments, which are common practices in the community, present major opportunities for advocacy in KSA. Because these practices are conducted without appropriate supervision, many adverse events result, thus affecting children and families. Many challenges are described herein, such as use of these practices in treating benign self-limited conditions; the surrounding culture and beliefs; and the dilemma of achieving child protection. At the system level, national policies and legislation, as well as research, are lacking. Moreover, health care facilities have longer waiting lists than traditional medicine facilities. CONCLUSION: Recommendations include improving knowledge, facilitating behavioral changes, data collection, bylaw enactment, and providing better access to health care facilities, all of which are supported by Saudi Vision 2030.