Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in Brazil.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The use of medicinal plants or other alternative practices can be the only therapeutic resources for many communities and ethnic groups, especially in developing countries. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health incorporated Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a public health policy since 2006. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CAM use in Brazil. METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study performed as an epidemiological survey, with data from the National Health Survey, 2013 that evaluated a sample of adult Brazilians (18+ years old). The outcome was the use of CAM therapies, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, medicinal plants and herbal medicines in the last 12?months. We employed a logistic regression model (CI 95%) to evaluate the chances of CAM use. RESULTS:The prevalence of CAM use in Brazil was 4.5%. The subjects with higher chances to use CAM were: women (AOR?=?1.42), aged >?40?years (AOR?=?1.64), with higher educational levels (AOR?=?2.35), and residents at North (AOR?=?2.02) and South (AOR?=?1.67) regions of Brazil, all with p-value

SUBMITTER: de Moraes Mello Boccolini P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7076835 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature