Medicinal Plants, Oral Health and Brazilian Unified National Health System: a difficult integration of public policies in the inner Bahia State?

Abstract

This exploratory and qualitative study aimed to analyze the knowledge, perceptions and practices of Oral Health Teams and Community Health Agents about public health policies that regulate the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines in the context of integrative and complementary practices, including their incorporation, recognition, challenges and possibilities in the local routine of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Eight Basic Health Units were selected in the municipality of Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil, and interviews were conducted with 8 dentists, 8 oral health assistants/technicians and 8 community health agents, totaling 24 participants. For data analysis, the Collective Subject Discourse technique was used. The knowledge, perceptions and practices of the actors involved in the study about public policies for the introduction of medicinal plants in the SUS were permeated by the hegemonic culture, traditional and fragmented health education, the administrative (un)interest of the municipal authorities, and individual subjectivities that are produced and reproduced in the local oral health services and the primary care.

Keywords:
Health Policies; Complementary Therapies; Dental Health Services; Biological Products; Primary Health Care