Associations Between Social and Religious Characteristics and the Use of Religion-Based and Complementary Healing Practices Among Muslim Women in Chicago: A Cross-Sectional Community Survey

INTRODUCTION: Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is used by many populations for healing purposes. For Muslims, these methods include religiously sourced and spiritually based practices, such as consuming herbs and foods mentioned by Prophet Muhammad and performing specific worship activities believed to hasten healing. This paper examined the use of T&CM among American Muslim women and the associations between sociodemographic and religious characteristics and such use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an exploratory, cross-sectional survey among English-speaking, adult Muslim women recruited from Chicago mosques and community centers. Participants completed a self-administered survey with items assessing sociodemographic and religious characteristics, as well as usage of traditional complementary and alternative treatments. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, ANOVA and Pearson's chi-squared tests were used to assess bivariate relationships, and multivariate linear and ordered logistic regression models were used to determine associations between outcome variables-religious and nonreligiously sourced complementary and alternative modalities-and independent variables. RESULTS: < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Many American Muslim women utilize T&CM for healing, with the most prevalent modalities being Prophetic medicine and worship activities. T&CM use appears to be associated with demographic features. Further research to unpack the surrounding behavioral and decisional contexts of T&CM, specifically whether it is used integratively or in lieu of allopathic methods, and by whom, is needed.