An Assessment of a Public Health Initiative of Homeopathy for Primary Teething.

BACKGROUND: During primary teething, children suffer from running nose, mild fever, diarrhoea and other mild irritations and inflammations. A public health programme, 'Homoeopathy for the Healthy Child', was undertaken on a pilot basis focusing on promotion of healthy teething by provision of home-based care through six pre-identified homeopathic medicines for complaints commonly observed during primary teething. This article assesses the feasibility of this programme and reports the impact of this initiative on teething profile in children and episodes of diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were trained in child care and usage of a kit comprising six medicines, namely Calcarea phosphoricum 6X (CP), Ferrum phosphoricum 3X, Magnesium phosphoricum 6X, Belladonna 30C, Chamomilla 30C and Podophyllum 30C. Calcarea phosphoricum was given regularly to each participating child from 6 months to 1 year of age. Home-based care for diarrhoea, URTI and mild fever was provided by ASHAs using the other five medicines in the kit. Dentition pattern and diarrhoea/URTI episodes were recorded over a period of the next 12 months. RESULTS: Eleven thousand four-hundred and twenty-six children were followed up regularly. Amongst those who enrolled at 6-7 months, a larger proportion of children were approaching expected teething in successive months as compared with children enrolled at 12 months, thus indicating that teething delays, if any, were overcome during this period. Incidence of diarrhoea and URTI showed decrease in the months after enrolment. Children responded favourably to the medicines given by ASHAs at the time of diarrhoea/URTI episodes, and ASHAs expressed satisfaction with the programme. CONCLUSION: An approach with regular use of CP and home-based care with homeopathy through health workers for common problems in teething children is acceptable to the community and enhances outreach of services to the public at large. Observations in terms of the healthy teething period may be further validated through studies of homeopathy with suitable comparator group.

Integrative and complementary practices: use by community health agents in self-care.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the use of integrative and complementary practices (ICPs) by community health agents working in family health teams. METHODS: Cross-sectional, quantitative research, conducted in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. An structured form was used for the characterization of participants and use of ICPs. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Use of ICPs was referenced by 94 (40.7%) agents. The use of medicinal plants was predominant (32.5%). There were associations between: ICPs in general and negative self-perception of health (p=0.032), homeopathy and higher education (p=0.015), massage and living with partner(p=0.024), chiropractic care and income equal to or greater than four minimum wages (p=0.031), relaxation/meditation and religion (p=0.028). CONCLUSION: The use of ICPs was verified in the healthcare of community agents. It is necessary to strengthen these practices for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases.

Integrative and complementary practices: use by community health agents in self-care / Prácticas integradoras y complementarias: utilización por agentes comunitarios de salud en el autocuidado / Práticas integrativas e complementares: utilização por agentes comunitários de saúde no autocuidado

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the use of integrative and complementary practices (ICPs) by community health agents working in family health teams. Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative research, conducted in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. An structured form was used for the characterization of participants and use of ICPs. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. Results: Use of ICPs was referenced by 94 (40.7%) agents. The use of medicinal plants was predominant (32.5%). There were associations between: ICPs in general and negative self-perception of health (p=0.032), homeopathy and higher education (p=0.015), massage and living with partner(p=0.024), chiropractic care and income equal to or greater than four minimum wages (p=0.031), relaxation/meditation and religion (p=0.028). Conclusion: The use of ICPs was verified in the healthcare of community agents. It is necessary to strengthen these practices for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Verificar la utilización de prácticas integradoras y complementarias (PICs) por agentes comunitarios de salud actuantes en los equipos de salud de la familia. Método: Investigación transversal, cuantitativa, realizada en la ciudad de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. Se utilizó formulario estructurado para caracterización de los participantes y del uso de las PICs. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y bivariados. Resultados: La utilización de las PICs fue referida por 94 (40,7%) de los agentes. Predominó el uso de las plantas medicinales (32,5%). Hubo asociaciones entre: las PICs en general y la autopercepción negativa para la salud (p=0,032), la homeopatía y la educación superior (p=0,015), el masaje y la vida en pareja (p=0,024), la quiropraxia y el ingreso igual o menor que cuatro salarios mínimos (p=0,031), la relajación/meditación y tener una religión (p=0,028). Conclusión: El uso de las PICs fue verificado en el cuidado en salud de los agentes comunitarios. Es necesario reforzar estas prácticas para la promoción de la salud y prevención de enfermedades.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a utilização de práticas integrativas e complementares (PICs) por agentes comunitários de saúde atuantes nas equipes de saúde da família. Método: Pesquisa transversal, quantitativa, realizada na cidade de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. Utilizou-se formulário estruturado para caracterização dos participantes e do uso de PICs. Foram conduzidas análises descritiva e bivariada. Resultados: A utilização de PICs foi referida por 94 (40,7%) dos agentes. Predominou o uso de plantas medicinais (32,5%). Houve associações entre: PICs no geral e autopercepção negativa da saúde (p=0,032), homeopatia e ensino superior (p=0,015), massagem e viver com companheiro (p=0,024), quiropraxia e renda igual ou superior a quatro salários mínimos (p=0,031), relaxamento/meditação e ter religião (p=0,028). Conclusão: O uso de PICs foi verificado no cuidado em saúde dos agentes comunitários. É preciso fortalecer essas práticas para a promoção da saúde e prevenção de agravos.

Single lesion leprosy pacients multicentric cohort treated with single dose drug therapy: findings on three-year follow-up and public health perspective in Brazil

Single skin lesion, paucibacillary (SSL-PB) leprosy is considered and early disease manifesation. This study the clinical outcome of a cohort of 259 newly diagnosed SSL-PB treated with one dose of rifampicin, ofloxacin, minocycline (ROM) and followed-up for three-years. Patients were recruited from the North, Central West and Southeast regions in Brazil (1997-2001). The result expected with ROM therapy was disappearance or the reduction of lesion size. Manifestation that required additional intervention were considered as poor clinical outcome: type-1 reaction (T1R) with or without neuritis alone, increase in lesion size and shift from paucibacillary to multibacillary. The incidence of poor clinical outcome was calculated by person-month and with the Kaplan-Meier methods. 61.8% of the participants were females, mean age 32.2, and 67,2% had borderline tuberculoid (BT) or tuberculoid forms. T1R was the predominant event; shift from paucibacillary to multibacillaru was rare. 92.0% of the volunteers shown no events during the first year, the same occurring to 80.6% of them after 3 years of clinical monitoring. The probability of remaining event-free was highest among those 40 years old or younger. Poor outcome predominated among BT patients. Extended monitoring of SSL-PB leprosy cases under minimal therapy provided valuable case management information for reference centers.