Utilization of curanderos by Mexican Americans: prevalence and predictors. Findings from HHANES 1982-84.

Data from the Southwest sample of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) were analyzed to examine whether the use of a curandero or other folk medicine practitioner hindered, enhanced, or did not affect the utilization of western health care services by Mexican Americans. Findings revealed that only 4.2 percent of the HHANES sample persons between the ages of 18-74 years reported consulting a curandero, herbalista, or other folk medicine practitioner within the 12 months prior to the survey. Income, self-perceived health status, the language of the interview, and dissatisfaction with modern medical care recently received independently predicted curandero utilization (adjusted OR 2.01 and 1.66, respectively). Low income and self-perceived health status were less strongly related to curandero utilization.