Perception about Suvarna Prashana in parents– A multi centric cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Suvarna Prashana (SP) word comes in Kashyapa Samhita only, but use of Suvarna (gold) is mentioned by every Acharya starting from neonatal age. SP increase the intelligence and immunity, and hence used in paediatric age group since long back. Due to competitive nature of education in current days, parents want their child to be bright in education. At the same time, COVID 19 pandemic has revealed the importance of immunity to everyone and parents are in search of immune-modulatory medicine for their children. Vidyabharti in collaboration with Kamdhenu Divya Aushadhi Mahila Sahkari Mandali, Jamnagar are doing work in this field with SP and hence to document the perception of parents for this formulation (SP), this cross sectional study was planned. Material and method: Google forms were provided to 1523 parents of 37 centers, whose child had received this SP at least for 1 year (13 doses) on every Pushya constellation, out of whom 1348 parents had responded. Data were analysed to get the idea about perception of parents for this formulation. Results: Response failure was 11.5%. 94.8% parents found this practice beneficial. 98.52% parents would like to recommend this to other parents. 92.80% and 97.77% parents found their child’s memory and growth and development improved after SP respectively. Family member of 34.64% children were infected with COVID 19 out of which, only 3.41 % children got infected during this study period. Conclusion: Survey study found that most parents believed/perceived that SP provided during every Pushya constellation at least for one year, is beneficial in regards to improvement in memory, general health, immunity of their children. Hence this preliminary data from observational study pave the way to establish the effectiveness of this drug in children through future randomized control trial.