(Can.) Alternative medicine among teens tied to wealth

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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/10/24/1276283-sun.html

 

2-tier care for the rich

Alternative medicine among teens tied to wealth

By SHARON LEM, TORONTO SUN

 

Teens from wealthy, educated families are more likely to use

alternative medicine, a new study finds.

 

The study raises concerns that a two-tier system is developing for

even the youngest in society.

 

The study also reports that the location of a person's residence

influences the use of complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments,

such as massage therapy, acupuncture, homeopathy/naturopathy and

chiropractic.

 

The study says 5% of Canadian teens visited a CAM practitioner in

2000-2001, with girls outnumbering boys by more than 2:1.

 

The study found back problems (17%) and disabilities (9%) were the

most common reasons for seeking CAM use, followed by asthma and

allergies (7%).

 

TOP EARNERS

 

The study found 74% of CAM users come from families with household

incomes in the top two income earners.

 

" We don't like to think Canada has a two-tiered health system, yet

this is clearly a service which is more accessible to those who have

the resources to pay for it than those who don't, " said lead author

Dr. Mary Ann McColl, director of the Centre for Health Services and

Policy Research at Queen's University.

 

CAM use was highest in the West (6% in British Columbia and Alberta)

and lowest in the Atlantic provinces at 2.3% and the North (2.9%).

 

Alberta and British Columbia partially cover alternative treatments

under provincial health insurance, making such services more

attractive, McColl said.

 

The study analyzes data collected by Statistics Canada as part of the

Canadian Community Health Survey in 2000-2001.