Utilization and Expenditures on Traditional and Herbal Medicines in Iran: 2009-2016

Abstract Aims Although some studies have assessed traditional and herbal medicines (THM) in different regions in Iran, no study investigates the determinants of THM in Iran. This study, for the first time, examines factors affecting the utilization and expenditure on THM in Iran over the period between 2009 and 2016. Method The Iranian Household Income and Expenditures Survey (HIES) (n = 310,617) was used to measure and identify the main determinants of THM from 2009 to 2016. A Tobit model for the pseudo panel data was employed to examine the effect of household income, household wealth, household size, number of males in the household, number of literate members in the household and average age of household members on THM in Iran. Results The average monthly use of herbal medicine and traditional medicine among Iranian households were 0.0683 and 0.0015 times, respectively. Results suggested that socioeconomic characteristics of households significantly influenced the utilization of THM: wealthier households and households with a higher number of literate members had a higher consumption of herbal medicine compared to their respective counterparts. There were also positive associations between household income and expenditures and utilization of herbal medicine in Iran. Conclusion This study revealed lower utilization and expenditures on THM in Iran than the corresponding figures in some Asian countries. The results demonstrated a higher consumption of herbal medicine among socioeconomically advantaged households in Iran.