Prevalence of COVID-19 Complications during a Program of Homeopathic Camphora Officinalis Distribution to City Populations of Santa Catarina, Brazil: An Ecological Study

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, was declared a pandemic in March 2020, posing significant challenges globally. Homeopathy has historical relevance in epidemic management. In response, the government of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, distributed Camphora 1M as a potential prophylactic intervention for COVID-19.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of Camphora 1M as an adjunctive prophylactic measure in managing COVID-19, focusing on mortality and hospitalization rates, during the period April 28 to July 31, 2020, within designated COVID-19 in-patient units in Santa Catarina.

Methods An ecological study design was applied to this epidemiological research. Five case municipalities (Itajaí, Atalanta, Entre Rios, Rio do Campo, Trombudo Central) were compared with five control municipalities (São José, Galvão, Pedras Grandes, Grão-Pará, Ascurra).

Results No statistically significant differences were observed in predictor variables between municipalities that received Camphora 1M and the respective controls. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were observed in outcomes: deaths (p = 0.879), hospitalized cases (p = 0.537), daily ward admissions (p = 0.730) and ICU admissions (p = 0.072).

Conclusion For the first wave of the pandemic in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, city-wide distribution of Camphora 1M was not associated with reduced numbers, severity or mortality among the population hospitalized in designated public hospitals for COVID-19.

Keywords

Camphora - COVID-19 - homeopathy - pandemic

Authors' contributions

A.P.O.: UFRJ collaborator. Search and analysis of data from Entre Rios and Pedras Grandes.

C.H.: UFRJ collaborator. Search and analysis of data from Rio do Campo and Gão Pará.

E.C.V.: UNIP post-doctoral student responsible for experimental design, compilation, data analysis and discussion.

E.N.C.: UFAL collaborator. Search and analysis of data from Atalanta and Galvão; search of general demographic data.

G.B.P.: UNIP collaborator, responsible for statistics/data analysis.

K.B.D.: ABFH collaborator. Search and analysis of data from Itajaí and São José.

L.V.B.: UNIP supervisor, project coordinator.

N.R.T.C.: UNIP under-graduate student. Search and analysis of data from Atalanta and Galvão.

V.E.B.: UERJ collaborator. Search and analysis of data from Trombudo Central and Ascurra.

Publication History

Received: 25 September 2023

Accepted: 05 March 2024

Article published online:
10 July 2024

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