Introduction

Enteroparasitosis has been causing serious problems of public health globally, especially in developing countries. Even with the general population reportedly having knowledge about intestinal parasites, studies indicate that they do not know how to identify the verminoses.

Objective

To elaborate, implement, and evaluate an educational program on intestinal parasites in a public school in Ribeirão Preto – SP.

Materials and Methods

Quase-experimental, non-randomized study conducted with 56 students from the first to the fourth grades of elementary education. In order to evaluate the students' knowledge before and after the educational intervention, a semi-structured questionnaire was applied (pre- and post-test).

Results

Changes were evidenced in the students' responses to hygiene habits, especially in questions about how worms feed (p = 0.008); or what not to do to avoid contamination with worms (p = 0.05); what is the form of the worms when ingested (p = 0.001); which organs the worms enter (p = 0.001). Thus, it was evident that this type of educational activity was efficient to help in the learning by elementary school students.

Discussion

After the educational activity, growth was noted in the correct answers for most of the questions, however, difficulties persisted in understanding about the symptoms, the cycle, and which organisms are worms.

Conclusions

It is hoped that this work will encourage health and education professionals to include health educational practices in the school context.

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