Promotion of personal hygiene in children: application of the Maguerez Arch in a university extension project

Abstract

Personal hygiene is one of the main ways to prevent infections and disease transmission. Therefore, the objective of this academic work is to report on the application of health education activities at a Child Education Center (CEI) in Anápolis, Goiás. Given its applicability to the action, the Maguerez Arch was the chosen learning methodology. The five stages of the Maguerez Arch were applied, namely: "observation of reality," "key points," "theorization," "solution hypotheses," and "application to reality." The action was developed through discussion circles, music, and painting activities with the children, who were very engaged. As a result, during the action, some challenges were observed, such as the difficulty of discussing intimate hygiene with the children. The action yielded positive results, related to the high level of public participation and the feedback from the teachers of the involved educational institution. University extension projects are important not only for university students, who develop new skills, but also for society, which begins to change its habits in light of the discussed topics.