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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Rehabil. Sci.

Sec. Rehabilitation for Musculoskeletal Conditions

Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fresc.2025.1484403

Utilization and Associated Factors Traditional Bone Setting Service among patients with musculoskeletal in Northeast Ethiopia

Provisionally accepted
Biruk Beletew Abate Biruk Beletew Abate 1*Mengesha Alemu Seid Mengesha Alemu Seid 1Betelhem Walelgn Betelhem Walelgn 1Ashenafi Sendekie Ashenafi Sendekie 2Getachew Tesfaw Walle Getachew Tesfaw Walle 1,2Melkamu Adamu Geremew Melkamu Adamu Geremew 1Mikiyas Haylu Sahlu Mikiyas Haylu Sahlu 1Simachew Asress Mekonen Simachew Asress Mekonen 1
  • 1 Woldia University, Woldiya, Ethiopia
  • 2 University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Traditional bone setting is widely practiced in Ethiopia, despite the lack of standardized training and associated risks. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of traditional bone setting service utilization and associated factors among trauma patients at Woldia Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April 9 and May 18, 2024. A total of 420 participants were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. Binary and multiple logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the independent variables and traditional bone setting service utilization.Results: A total of 420 patients with orthopedic injuries participated in the study. The prevalence of traditional bone setting utilization was 55.2% (95% CI: 50.44–59.95). In a multivariable regression model, rural residency (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.02–2.39), low annual income (< 21,000 Birr) (AOR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.97–8.37), use of health insurance (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41–0.95), and extremity trauma (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.11–2.99) were significantly associated with traditional bone setting utilization.Conclusion: Traditional bone setting utilization is common among rural, poor, and uninsured patients. Further research may be important to ensure its appropriate utilization.

    Keywords: Traditional bone setting, Musculoskeletal injury, Associated factors, Woldia, traditional medicin

    Received: 21 Aug 2024; Accepted: 24 Mar 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Abate, Seid, Walelgn, Sendekie, Walle, Geremew, Sahlu and Mekonen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Biruk Beletew Abate, Woldia University, Woldiya, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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