Public Knowledge of Safety of Traditional Medicines and the Risk of Chemical Drug Substances in Indonesia

Abstract

The use of traditional medicines in Indonesia is increasing, while some products still do not meet safety requirements and may contain chemical drug substances (CDS) that pose health risks. This situation requires adequate public knowledge in selecting traditional medicines that are safe and of good quality. This study aimed to assess the level of public knowledge in Indonesia regarding the safety of traditional medicines and understanding of the risks associated with CDS. A cross-sectional design was applied through a national survey conducted from July to September 2024, involving 20,610 respondents from 34 provinces using a stratified three-stage sampling method. The results showed that 74.24% of respondents had used traditional medicines in the past six months. Respondents’ knowledge of product safety indicators was in the good category, particularly regarding labels and expiration dates, while understanding of registration numbers was relatively lower. Knowledge about the risks of CDS content was still limited, with only 59.71% of respondents aware that traditional medicines may contain CDS and negatively affect health. Higher levels of knowledge were observed among women, individuals aged <35 years, urban residents, and respondents with higher educational attainment. There remains a gap in public knowledge in Indonesia regarding the safety of traditional medicines and the risks of BKO. More extensive and targeted public education efforts, along with strengthened regulatory oversight, are needed to prevent the circulation of traditional medicines containing CDS.