KNOWLEDGE AND POTENTIAL OF MEDICINAL PLANT USE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF CAMPECHE

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the level of knowledge that students of elementary school have about the existence of medicinal plants, the relationship between these plants and their health, as well as the interest they have in the use of these plants. We visited one elementary school in each municipality of the State of Campeche. Fifteen workshops were carried out with a population of 398 students in 4th to 6th grade, between 8 and 13 years old. Three instruments were applied during the workshops in order to obtain data: a diagnostic evaluation, an intermediate evaluation and a final evaluation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results highlight the high percentage of students who have knowledge of plants and traditional medicine, mainly obtained through their families, where the participation of grandmothers is of great importance. Likewise, the importance of taking care of the endemic natural resources in the state was strengthened, as well as raising awareness about the prevention, care and healing of human health through the use of medicinal plants versus bad eating habits and their derivation into chronic and fatal diseases for people