Cultural Values, Health Literacy, and the Transformation of Traditional Medicine Practices in Modernized Societies: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58230/josse.v3i2.692Keywords:
Traditional Medicine, Cultural Values, Health Literacy, Indigenous Knowledge, Healthcare Integration, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Traditional medicine (TM) remains an important component of healthcare systems worldwide because it is deeply embedded in cultural values, indigenous knowledge, and community-based health practices. However, modernization, scientific advancement, and changing health information environments have transformed the ways in which traditional medicine is understood, practiced, and integrated into contemporary healthcare systems. This study aims to examine the role of cultural values and health literacy in shaping the transformation of traditional medicine practices in modernized societies. A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were performed across four international databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. A total of 15 international scientific articles were selected through a systematic identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion process. The selected studies were examined using a descriptive-analytical approach to identify patterns related to cultural values, health literacy, knowledge transmission, transformation processes, and challenges associated with traditional medicine development. The findings indicate that cultural values play a central role in sustaining traditional medicine through beliefs, spirituality, social identity, and intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge. The review also demonstrates that health literacy influences how communities access, interpret, and evaluate traditional medicine practices, particularly regarding safety, scientific validation, and the integration of traditional and biomedical healthcare approaches. Furthermore, traditional medicine has undergone various transformation processes, including cultural persistence, adaptation to modern contexts, integration into formal healthcare systems, digitalization, biotechnology-based innovation, and evidence-based modernization. Nevertheless, challenges remain concerning regulatory frameworks, standardization, scientific validation, and the balance between cultural preservation and biomedical requirements. This study recommends strengthening culturally responsive health education, interdisciplinary research collaboration, and evidence-based policy development to support the sustainable transformation and integration of traditional medicine within modern healthcare systems.
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