IPUMS NHIS: descr: FOKYR

IPUMS NHIS

NHIS
MEPS

NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY

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FOKYR

Saw provider for folk medicine, past 12 months

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Description

For sample adults in 2002 who had ever seen a practitioner for folk medicine (FOKEV) and sample adults and sample children aged four and older in 2017, FOKYR reports whether the person had seen a practitioner for folk medicine in the past 12 months.

Folk medicine was one of many alternative health treatment modalities included in the Complementary and Alternative Health Supplements. Although the 2002 Supplement asked about the use of a generic "practitioner for folk medicine," the 2007 and later Supplements asked about the use of particular kinds of traditional healers, including Botanicas, curanderos, Espiritistas, Native American Healers/Medicine Men, Shamans, sobadors, and Hierberos or Yerberas.

In addition, sample adults (2002, 2007, and 2012) and sample children (2007 and 2012) who had used folk medicine in the past 12 months were asked whether the folk medicine was used to treat a specific medical condition and, if so, what that condition was. In 2007 and 2012, sample adults and sample children were also asked whether they had ever seen specific types of folk medicine providers, and in 2007, 2012, and 2017, whether they had seen specific types of folk medicine providers in the past 12 months.

Definitions[show more]

The 2002 Field Representative's Manual says that "folk medicine (such as, Curanderismo, ... Native American healing)":

refers to systems of healing that have persisted since the beginning of culture and flourished long before the development of conventional or allopathic medicine. Folk healers usually participate in a training regimen of observation and imitation, with healing often considered a gift passed down through several generations of a family. Folk healers may employ a range of remedies including prayer, healing touch or laying on of hands, charms, herbal teas or tinctures, magic rituals, and others. Folk healers are found in all cultures and operate under a variety of names and labels.

In 2002, this definition was not routinely shared with respondents, but in 2017, field representatives were advised to "feel free to offer [this definition] even if the respondent has not requested [it]."

The 2002 survey question asked whether the person had seen "a practitioner" for folk medicine in the past 12 months. The 2007 Manual defines an "alternative provider or practitioner" as:

someone who is knowledgeable about a specific alternative health practice. This person provides care or gives advice about its use, and usually receives payment for his or her services.

Comparability

Aside from slight changes in the question and changes in the universe, this variable is comparable over time. In 2002, sample adults age 18 and older who had ever seen a practitioner for folk medicine (FOKEV) were asked if they had seen a practitioner for folk medicine in the past 12 months. In 2017, sample adults age 18 and older and sample children age 4 and older were asked if they had seen a traditional medicine practitioner, such as a Shaman, curandero, Yerbero, sobador, or Native American Healer in the past 12 months.

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