Resumo

HILAS, E; TESSIO CONCA, A; MONCUNILL, I  e  CORNEJO, LS. Health conceptions predominating in dispersed rural communities. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2004, vol.41, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-297X.

The health conceptions of the rural inhabitants of the north of the Province of Córdova, Argentina, where they live dispersed and isolated, are analyzed. A qualitative study was conducted in which an interview with open questions was made. It was observed a predominance of curative conceptions conditioning health conducts and strategies with which they face the health/disease process. In oral health, the participants have a symptomatic attitude and resigned themselves with the disease. The culture of extraction and selfmedication prevailed. The information obtained is relevant to dimension the severity of the problem and the need to develop comprehensive intervention strategies in order to revert the situation of disadvantage and vulnerability in which a great number of inhabitants of dispersed and isolated rural areas are. A reconceptualization of the conceptions existing in these rural contexts is required.

Palavras-chave : Conception of health-disease; isolated populations; oral health; contextualized prevention.