Use of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices by professionals from the Expanded Centers for Family Health and Primary Care

Abstract

We sought to understand the understanding of professionals from the Expanded Centers for Family Health and Primary Care (Nasf-AB) on the use of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS) in their work in the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco state, Brazil, between July and August 2020. This is a qualitative, exploratory study, using Bardin's content analysis to process the data. Twelve professionals were interviewed, of which ten used PICS, the majority being female, brown skinned, with training in occupational therapy, aged between 30 and 39 years. Auriculotherapy was the predominant practice, being used in the population and in the supported teams, individually and collectively, mainly in mental health problems and chronic pain. The results also showed benefits, forms of use, weaknesses and potential of PICS. The lack of federal funding for PICS, the approval of Constitutional Amendment (EC) 95/2017 and the current “Previne Brasil” Program, are seen by the authors as major challenges to the strengthening of Nasf-AB and the institutionalization of PICS in Primary Health Care.