The Effect of Traditional Medicinal Plants in Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases: Insights from Indonesia Health Survey (2023)

Background: This study examines the ecological relationship between the use of Traditional Medicinal Plants (TOGA) and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, and stroke across provinces in Indonesia.It also explores geographical variations and the potential role of TOGA as a population-level intervention for controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Materials and Methods: An ecological study was performed using aggregate data from the Indonesia Health Survey 2023, encompassing 639,628 individuals across 38 provinces in Indonesia.Provincial TOGA utilization rates were analyzed in relation to the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, and stroke.Scatter plot diagrams were employed to visualize as well as assess the correlation between TOGA use and NCD prevalence. Results:The study found significant regional variations in TOGA utilization, ranging from 2.3% to 22.8% across provinces.Provinces with higher TOGA utilization generally revealed lower prevalence rates of NCDs, particularly for hypertension and stroke, suggesting a potential protective effect.However, the relationship was weaker for diabetes mellitus and asthma, indicating that other factors may influence these conditions.Conclussion: The findings suggest a potential association between higher TOGA utilization and lower prevalence of certain NCDs at the ecological level, particularly hypertension and stroke.Nevertheless, owing to the ecological nature of the study, the results provide a general populationlevel overview and does not establish individual-level causal relationships.Further research using individual-level data is required to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms underlying TOGA's potential health benefits.