Abid Parvez  ( PMRC Research Centre, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. )
Naseer Ahmad Chaudhry  ( PMRC Research Centre, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. )
Fateh M. Chaudhry  ( PMRC Research Centre, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. )
Muhammad Ashfaq  ( Department of Statisties, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. )

Quackery an ancient Practice^1-3 is an out­come of shortage and inaccessibility of qualified medical practitioners in this country. It is a threat to scientific medical practice and hazardous to the population. Inspite of this, people still resort to various non scientific, sometimes crippling and even-life threatening ways, for their ailments. The present study was conducted to know the attitudes of people towards different modes of treat­ment and the reasons thereof in Tehsil Faisalabad. Faisalabad is the third largest city of Pakistan with an urban population of 1.12 million and rural popula­tion of 0.93 million4. Its industrial, commercial and agricultural set up is representative of the Punjab Province.

This study included all urban and rural house ­holds in Tehsil Faisalabad. The urban area was divided into enumeration blocks which were further divided into three strata according to socioeco­nomic levels. In rural area each village was con­sidered a separate block. Forty five urban blocks and 35 villages were randomly included in the sample by applying two stage stratified random sample technique. Twenty households from each block/vil­lage were selected, thus the total number of house­holds was 1600. Information regarding socio demo­graphic parameters, attitude of people towards dif­ferent modes of treatment and theft possible re­asons were recorded by the Field Surveyors on the prepared proforma. Modes of treatment preferred were classified into three groups. The households in Group 1 preferred Government hospital/dispen­sary treatment, in group 2 private hospitals + Spe­cialists + general practitioners and in group 3 proforma was for homeopaths, hakims, quacks, faith healers (Peers) and self medication.

Of 1600 households surveyed, 900 were urban and 700 rural, covering a population of 11,395(6614 urban, 4781 rural) persons. The average household size for urban and rural areas was 7.3 and 6.8 and male to female ratio 1.12:1 and 122:1 respectively. The urban (545%) population, preferred MBBS doctors, Specialists and Private hospitals and the rural population preferred homeopaths, hakims and faith healers (Table I).

The overall preference for group 2 mode of treatment was for proper diagnosis and rapid relief and group 3 for easy availability, lower cost, sympathetic attitude (Table II) and the easy access (Table III).

The standard of health care in a country de­pends on the available medical facilities and the manpower. In Pakistan there was 1 doctor for 4,000 and 1 hospital bed for 2,000 persons in 1977^6,7. Although the figures have improved in 1986 but they / are still not as good as other Countries^5-7 (Table IV).

Non-availability of government hospitals and dis­pensaries in rural areas, lack of diagnostic facilities, medicines and manpower in few that are available and the high cost have made group 1 and 2modes of treatment out of reach for an average Pakistani. They, therefore, resort to unscientific and at times hazardous modes of easily available, low cost treat­ment of group 3 as is shown in this study. Taking this study as a base line a comprehensive survey of government health facilities and an attempt to im­prove the health manpower and hospitals may bring some change in the health status of people of this country.

1. Lyons, AS. and Pettrucelli, R.J. Medicine, and illus­trated histosy. New York, Hany N. Abrams, 1978, p. 67, 72,196,301.
2. Saffron, M. Medicine, an illustrated history, by Lyons A.S. and B.. J. Pettrucelli. New York, Hariy N. Abrams, 1978, p 485, 489.
3. Brieger, G.H. Christopher’s text book of surgery, 12th ed London, Saunders, 1981.
4. 1981 District Census Report of Faisalabad. District Cen­sus Report No. 49. Islamabad, Population Census Or­ganisation, Government of Pakistan, 1984, p. 22.
5. Makkah Region Comprehensive Development Plans, Final Report; Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1984, p.62.
6. The world almanac and book of facts, 1983. New York, Newspaper Enterprises Association, 1983, p500.
7. Economic Survey 1985-86. lslamabad, Economic Ad­visors Wing, Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakis­tan, 1986, p.12.