A percepção das gestantes frente a utilização de plantas medicinais no município de Cuité - PB.

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants is one of the oldest practices of civilization, because humans sought in nature to find plants that would relieve and cure symptoms of illness. These customs have been passed down through the generations and to this day are part of the daily lives of many people. However, specific groups should be careful about such use, such as pregnant women. In this perspective, this study has as main objective to evaluate the knowledge of pregnant women regarding the use of medicinal plants in the city of Cuité-PB. It consists of a quantitative approach, with a descriptive and cross-sectional typology, carried out in the Family Health Strategies and Reference Center of Social Assistance in the city of Cuité-PB, with 50 pregnant women from February to March 2019. It was possible to verify the knowledge of the pregnant women about the medicinal plants used in general, their form of acquisition, indication, and their use in the gestational period, evidencing risks, contraindications and health professionals' orientations regarding the theme. In this way it was realized that scientific knowledge should prevail over collective common sense, due to the lack of reliable information about the use of plants as a form of treatment, especially during pregnancy. Whereas, 36% of the interviewees stated that they had guidance about this practice during gestational follow-up. Therefore, understanding the view of the pregnant women was of great relevance, since the use of medicinal plants in the pregnancy period poses risks to the fetal development and maternal health. Thus, guidance by health professionals is essential to prevent risks and health problems, strengthening and valuing the Integrative and Complementary Practices in the Unified Health System.