Impacts of educational interventions on schistosomiasis awareness in a school community

Schistosomiasis mansoni is an anthropozoonosis caused by the flatworm Schistosoma mansoni and represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, primarily affecting economically disadvantaged populations. This study aimed to develop educational activities on schistosomiasis and subsequently assess the level of knowledge among Basic Education students in the municipality of Zé Doca, Maranhão, regarding the disease. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with an exploratory nature and a quantitative approach. The study included students who were regularly enrolled at Professor Francisco de Assis Amorim Educational Center and voluntarily agreed to participate in the proposed activities. Initially, health education activities on schistosomiasis were conducted, followed by the administration of a questionnaire to evaluate students’ knowledge of fundamental aspects of the disease. A total of 96 students were interviewed, with an average age of 16.5 years, of whom 62.5% were female. Among the participants, 73.9% reported consuming filtered water, 77.0% stated that there were no snails near their residences, and 63.4% were previously unaware of schistosomiasis before participating in educational activities. Additionally, 70.8% correctly identified the diagnostic method, 56.2% recognized the causative agent, 69.7% acknowledged the primary mode of transmission, 83.3% indicated avoiding contact with contaminated water as an effective preventive measure, and 76.0% had never participated in an educational campaign on the topic. The findings suggest that most participants comprehended the information provided during the educational activities, reinforcing the effectiveness of these initiatives as promising tools for enhancing students’ knowledge about the disease. KEY WORDS: Health education; public health education; school-based health promotion; tropical diseases.