Actions of women farmaers in family care: use of medicinal plants in southern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to describe actions in family care and use of medicinal plants by women farmers in the south of Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. This is a qualitative study with a group of 15 women farmers from District of Rincão da Cruz, Pelotas, RS. Data were collected in 2011 and 2012. Participant observations, focus groups, and individual interviews were performed, resulting in two thematic cores. The theoretical reference for this study was based on publications by Geertz and Leininger. Content analysis of discourses was developed in three stages: pre-analysis, analysis, and interpretation of results. These women were shown to have knowledge on medicinal plants and the most prevalent diseases in the region. This knowledge is used in the context of the family and community care. These women farmers are recognized in the region by their persistent work with medicinal plants as a health resource