Oral Health from the Perspective of Venezuelan Amazon's Guahibo People.

Background: The health-disease-care process is a universal event, which each society and culture develops in its own way. The specialized literature suggests that more studies and preventive actions are needed to improve the oral health of indigenous peoples, respecting their cultures. The Guahibo people are originally from the Venezuelan and Colombian plains, they are a heterogeneous population that is scattered both in the national territory and in eastern Colombia. Until now, no studies on the oral health from the Guahibo perspective have been found. Purpose: This research aimed to describe oral health from the perspective of members of the Guahibo community in Amazonas state, Venezuela. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, and phenomenological study using ethnographic data collection techniques (open interviews, observation, and field notes) was carried out. Triangulation was used as the data analysis technique. Results: It was found that the Guahibo people merge western practices with the ancestral practices of their ethnic group in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Among the indigenous practices are religious rites, use of medicinal plants and mineral products. Conclusions: The presence of disease for Guahibo people is determined by the painful symptoms. The most widely used treatments are those that include plants and religious rites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]