ABSTRACT
Demographic and social studies, as well as economic and cultural factors in a community are important regarding public health. This study identified demographic, socioeconomic and cultural aspects correlated with intestinal parasites in the population of Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia-Brazil, from July to October 2015. 53 semi-structured questionnaires were applied to the rural population of the municipality with previous clarification on the purpose of the study. There were questions related to the individual's gender, family income and parental level of education. Laboratory parasitological analyzes were performed to investigate enteroparasites and produced the following results: 53.7% (n=58) were female; 62.8% (n=66) with monthly family income lower or equal to the minimum wage and 48% (n=48) of adults with incomplete basic education. The main enteroparasites found in this population were: Iodamoeba butschlii, Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar complex, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana in addition to some geohelminths, such as hookworms and Enterobius vermicularis. The profile visualized can be understood as a risk factor for the development of certain parasitic infections that are intrinsically associated to the social and economic aspects of vulnerable populations.
Subject(s)
Parasitic Diseases/epidemiology , Rural Health , Giardia lamblia , Entamoebiasis/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, ParasiticABSTRACT
Introdução: O uso de plantas medicinais é uma prática comum de cuidado primário nas populações em geral. Foi introduzido no Brasil, por influência das culturas indígena, africana e europeia e caracteriza-se por ser oriundo do conhecimento e da tradição popular. Objetivos: Sendo o Recôncavo da Bahia uma região de forte influência africana, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o uso das principais plantas medicinais e identificar seu uso pela população de um de seus municípios, valorizando o acervo cultural e o saber popular de seus moradores quanto aos benefícios que essas plantas trazem para a população. Metodologia: Para a obtenção dos dados, foi aplicado um questionário sociodemográfico, contendo questões sobre o uso de plantas para fins medicinais em chás ou xaropes com 154 entrevistados. Resultados: Desse universo de pessoas, 74,71% tinham o costume de usar remédios caseiros e 60,0% eram do gênero feminino. Os vegetais mais citados para fins medicinais foram: Lippia alba (n=71), Cymbopogon citratus (n=31), Pimpinella anisum (n=30), Peumus boldus (n=14), Plantago major e Ocimum basilicum (n=13 cada); sendo utilizados principalmente como calmante, dores em geral e contra gases. Quanto ao local de obtenção dos vegetais, os entrevistados cultivavam a planta (94,6%), pegavam do cultivo de amigos e vizinhos (1,8%), compravam na feira livre (1,8%), compravam em farmácia ou adquiriam de outros lugares (0,9%). Conclusões: Os dados evidenciam a relevância da prática do uso de plantas para manutenção da saúde dos moradores do município pesquisado, sendo parte integrante de seu contexto sociocultural. As diferentes finalidades do uso de plantas para fins medicinais mostram que mais estudos são necessários para avaliar as propriedades dessas plantas e seus efeitos no organismo humano. (AU)
Introduction: The use of medicinal plants is a common practice of primary care in general populations. It was introduced in Brazil, influenced by the indigenous, african and european cultures and it is characterized by being derived from knowledge and popular tradition. Objective: The Recôncavo Baiano is an exceptionally fertile region located on the coast of the state of Bahia, an area of strong African influence; the objective of this study was to investigate the use and identify the main medicinal plants used by the population of one of its municipalities, valuing the cultural heritage and the popular knowledge of its residents regarding the benefits of these plants. Methodology: To obtain the data, a sociodemographic questionnaire was applied, containing questions about the use of medicinal plants in teas or syrups, with 154 interviewees. Results: From this universe of people, 74.71% had a habit of using home remedies and 60.0% were female. The most frequently mentioned plants for medicinal purposes were: Lippia alba (n=71), Cymbopogon citratus (n=31), Pimpinella anisum (n=30), Peumus boldus (n=14), Plantago major and Ocimum basilicum (n=13 each), and they were used mainly as soothing, in pains in general and against gases. As to the location of the vegetables, the interviewees cultivated the plant (94.6%), obtained the cultivation from friends and neighbors (1.8%), bought it at the fair (1.8%), bought in a pharmacy or acquired from other places (0.9%). Conclusions: The data show the relevance of the practice of using plants for the maintenance of the health of the residents of the studied municipality, being part of their sociocultural context. The different purposes of the use of plants for medicinal purposes show that more studies are needed to evaluate their properties and their effects on the human body. (AU)