Water scarcity and human health: Alternative conceptions of elementary students in the municipality of Tenente Ananias-RN

Abstract

The present research aimed to analyze the alternative conceptions of elementary school students, final years, regarding the interrelation between water scarcity and human health. The research was developed with 27 students enrolled in the afternoon shift of a municipal school located in Tenente Ananias, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. For data collection, a semi-structured interview with subjective and objective questions was used. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed and categorized. Through the data collected, it was noted that students have difficulty understanding the importance and role that water plays in different forms of life, as well as identifying that water scarcity is a recurring problem and affects a large part of the population. Therefore, it is hoped that this research can contribute to arouse students' interest in combating environmental impacts involving water scarcity, as well as for teachers, who from these conceptions can reflect and plan strategies to develop sustainable use activities. of water resources at the local level, with a view to building work that meets the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals.