Purpose of choose of phytoterapy among users of Basic Health Care in the city of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This descriptive, exploratory, quantitative and qualitative study aimed to identify reasons for the use of phytotherapy, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The study population consisted of 50 users of a basic health unit (UBS), who offer phytotherapy in the program area (AP 2.1). Participants were people who declared that they made use of medicinal plants and / or herbal medicines. As a result, it was possible to identify that the user's personal network represented a greater portion of the recomendation for herbal medicine, followed by a medical indication. However, for institutionalization of phytotherapy in primary care our findings suggest that access to information and indication about the practice of phytotherapy is strongly linked to social contexts. Therefore, these evidences suggest the importance of being inserted in the phytotherapy services spaces of discussion concerning the paradigm of caring and self-care. This information is important for the planning and eventual reformulation of the strategies of access to health actions in integrative and complementary practices in which phytotherapy is inserted.