IDENTIFICAÇÃO E DISTRIBUIÇÃO GEOGRÁFICA DA POPULAÇÃO USUÁRIA DO HOSPITAL DE MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA DE GOIÂNIA: UMA QUESTÃO SOCIAL E/OU CULTURAL?

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the socioeconomic characteristics and geographical distribution of the population using the Hospital of Alternative Medicine in Goiania (HMA), and the spontaneous use of medicinal plants as a cultural factor. Conventional medicine, every day that passes is becoming difficult to access for a large portion of people who seek care units of public health. The work consisted of a cross-sectional study quantitative and qualitative, through the application form and interviews by saturation of information. The quantitative survey data were collected by means of a proportional random sample of the user population of the HMA of both sexes aged over 18 years, consisting of 302 patients. Was applied to this sample for four consecutive weeks in the morning and afternoon from November to December 2008, a form with open and closed questions related to education level, type of plant used, method of preparation and why it appealed to treatment. The application forms were preceded by a pilot study with 13 patients, and interviews were guided by semi-structured questions with the patients intentionally selected and identified at the time of application forms. The tapes were transcribed and stored in secret institution for a period of five (5) years, and then be destroyed. To perform this study and in the application forms, the interview turned to files, records made by local people themselves, and a literature on the subject addressed. It was concluded that the 302 participants, 79.8% were female, 73.6% were between 30 and 59 years, 58.2% were married, 22.8% of the home, 40% have 1 degree and 40, 7% high school. 38.4% have an individual from 2 to 3 minimum wages, and 45.7% with a familiar 2 to 3 salaries. 39% live in Aparecida de Goiania and 22.8% are from home, 37.7% go to the HMA is less than a year. 17.2% were indicated by the HMA / recommendation of friends, 73.8% learned to use plants with the family, 91.1% had healing with plants, 69.5% were plants in the backyard, 31.4 % knew alternative treatment through neighbors, 76.5% use is natural, plants, 57.9% claimed to know the properties of plants. 75.1% said that treatment is more effective. We conclude that the search for alternative treatments and the spontaneous use of medicinal plants occurred through the knowledge that individuals already possess medicinal plants that have incorporated cultural values, and that occurs in people who have difficult access to conventional medical services in general neighborhoods with low purchasing power.