The Differential Use of Medical Resources in Developing Countries.

A variety of explanations have been offered for the utilization of alternative types of medical therapy in the developing world. This study assesses these explanations in terms of the disposition of 520 illness episodes in a rural Malay village where five distinctive types of therapy are available. The perceived etiology of the disorder and the degree of functional impairment were found to be significantly associated with the selection of a therapeutic alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]