CHALLENGES FOR ACCEPTANCE OF HOMEOPATHY AS AN INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY PRACTICE IN SUS

Abstract

Homeopathy is a holistic therapy, founded in 1796, whose main objective is to treat the individual seeking their integral care. It arrived in Brazil in 1840 and was introduced to the Unifi ed Health System (SUS) in 2006, after being defi ned as an integrative and complementary practice. However, homeopathic therapy is poorly accepted by managers, health professionals, and users of the public system. This study aims to overview this therapy use an detect the challenges for its acceptance in the SUS. The research was developed in a quantitative exploratory way, through the questionnaire application, as well as a literature review for data correlation. The survey had 130 participants, mostly women aged 18 to 29 years. In the main aspect of the study, 95.4% of people know or at least have heard of homeopathy. However, only 16.9% make use of this therapy, and 60.5% claimed not to know that SUS can off er the treatment. The lack of studies aimed at its scientifi c proof and the lack of scientifi c and extension projects in undergraduate courses, culminating in the low aptitude of health professionals in approaching the homeopathic treatment system. Thus, it is crucial to include Homeopathy in the Health worker’s undergraduate courses  and carry on public campaigns for the dissemination of therapy is highlighted.