Hybridization between biomedicine and alternative medicine in COVID-19 care in a neo-rural population of Córdoba, Argentine

SANTORO, FLAVIA ROSA; DA SILVA CHAVES, LEONARDO; ARIAS TOLEDO, BÁRBARA

Ethnobiology and Conservation

Ethnobiology and Conservation

Año: 2023 vol. 12

We propose to investigate if the use and knowledge of medicinal plants and alternative medicine influence the adoption of biomedical strategies in dealing with COVID-19 - such as the use of masks, social isolation, and vaccination - in a context of a neo-rural population. The “neo-ruralism” phenomenon is a gradual displacement of urban middle classes to small rural locations. We collected data through online questionnaires, using the Google Forms platform in the “Paravachasca Valley”, Córdoba, Argentine. Our sample size was 208 people. The questionnaires, anonymous, contained multiple choice questions about attitudes and opinions concerning prophylactic strategies against COVID-19. To test whether the use or knowledge of medicinal plants is associated with trust in the efficiency and adoption of biomedical strategies, we used a chi-square test of independence. We verified that the knowledge about medicinal plants is related to distrust and reluctance to the adoption of the use of masks, social isolation, and vaccination. Also, our results suggest that alternative medicine users are afraid of the vaccine effects. In this plural medical context of a neo-rural population, belief in alternative medicines for the treatmentof COVID-19 can be an obstacle to immunization programs.