Journals Information
Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 14(1), pp. 35 - 44
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2026.140104
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Integrating Complementary and Integrative Health Practices into Brazil's Public Health System: Municipal Governance and Innovation in Sorocaba
Welton Hebert da Silva 1,2, Fábio Luís Falchi de Magalhães 3,4,*, João Antônio Nunes 5,6, Thiago Aguiar Cacuro 7,8, Antonio Yukio Ueta 9,10, Matheus Cardoso Moraes 4,11
1 Researcher at the Agência Brasileira de Internacionalização, Pesquisa e Inovação (ABIPI), Sorocaba/SP, Brazil
2 Master's Student in Technological Innovation, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil
3 Chair of the Scientific Council at the Agência Brasileira de Internacionalização, Pesquisa e Inovação (ABIPI), Brazil
4 Permanent Faculty Member of the Interdisciplinary Professional Master's and Doctoral Program in Technological Innovation, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil
5 President of the Agência Brasileira de Internacionalização, Pesquisa e Inovação (ABIPI), Brazil
6 Doctoral Student in Technological Innovation, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil
7 Administrative Coordinator of the Project – Agência de Desenvolvimento Econômico Social (ADES), Brazil
8 Vice-President of the Agência Brasileira de Internacionalização, Pesquisa e Inovação (ABIPI), Brazil
9 Visiting Professor in the Interdisciplinary Professional Master's and Doctoral Program in Technological Innovation, Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil
10 Ph.D. in Physics from Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU-LINZ), Austria
11 Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic School, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil
ABSTRACT
Complementary and Integrative Health Practices (CIHPs) are increasingly incorporated into public health strategies worldwide; however, their institutionalization within local health systems remains uneven. This study analyzes the implementation of CIHPs in Sorocaba, Brazil, through the Saúde Ativa II Project, supported by municipal legislation and targeted funding. A qualitative, document-based thematic analysis was conducted using the STEEPLE framework (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political, Legal, and Ethical dimensions) to examine institutional records, policy documents, and operational reports. From August 2023 to February 2024, the program engaged more than 4,500 participants in group activities and over 4,300 individual consultations in physiotherapy, nutrition, and reflexology. Key innovations included agile governance inspired by the Scrum framework, digital health tools, and community engagement via social media. The experience underscores the importance of local legislation, data integration, and multidisciplinary coordination in sustaining CIHPs within primary care. Despite structural challenges – such as the absence of standardized indicators, lack of permanent funding, and limited tracking of clinical outcomes – the findings provide actionable insights for public health managers. Future research should explore clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and comparative analyses across municipalities to strengthen the evidence base for integrating CIHPs into the Unified Health System (SUS).
KEYWORDS
Complementary and Integrative Health Practices, Primary Health Care, Unified Health System, Public Health Policy, Collective Health, Health Innovation, Health Governance, Global South
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Welton Hebert da Silva , Fábio Luís Falchi de Magalhães , João Antônio Nunes , Thiago Aguiar Cacuro , Antonio Yukio Ueta , Matheus Cardoso Moraes , "Integrating Complementary and Integrative Health Practices into Brazil's Public Health System: Municipal Governance and Innovation in Sorocaba," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 35 - 44, 2026. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2026.140104.
(b). APA Format:
Welton Hebert da Silva , Fábio Luís Falchi de Magalhães , João Antônio Nunes , Thiago Aguiar Cacuro , Antonio Yukio Ueta , Matheus Cardoso Moraes (2026). Integrating Complementary and Integrative Health Practices into Brazil's Public Health System: Municipal Governance and Innovation in Sorocaba. Universal Journal of Public Health, 14(1), 35 - 44. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2026.140104.