Abstract:
Aim of the study was to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors of patients seeking
ayurveda treatment, their disease patterns, satisfaction and perception on ayurveda medical
care in Kalutara district. Patients' satisfaction on ayurveda medical care on the aspects of
facilities available at the institution, waiting time (85.5 percent) and the cost spent for
treatment (76.2 percent) were high whereas, their knowledge on availability of surgical
procedures (14.8 percent) and family planning methods (3.5 percent) in ayurveda were poor.
Majorities had perceived that the ayurveda medical care was less costly (66.8 percent) and
less of side effects (87.4 percent). Greater part of the respondents had stated that the
ayurveda medicine is better in treating fracture (83.1 percent), paralysis (78.6 percent) and
asthma (64.6 percent) whereas allopathic medicine is better in treating dog bites (77.2
percent), heart attacks (74.8 percent), high blood pressure (78.3 percent), tuberculosis (76.8
percent) and leprosy (69.2 percent)