Modification of knowledge on occupational accidents among schoolchildren who resided in a landfill impacted area.

Introduction:: The prevalence of occupational accidents is very high in Brazil, having impacts on the health system and social security. This requires prevention, which must start with students of the Basic Education.

Objectives:: The knowledge on this kind of accidents among children and adolescents studying in an area near a sanitary landfill was evaluated, before and after the development of activities on health education.

Methods:: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 and included the application of the same questionnaire among students from a school in Cuiabá-MT, Brazil, before and after educational health activities related to the definition of occupational accidents. Univariate analyses of absolute and relative frequencies and bivariate analyses using the χ2 Test and Fisher's Exact Test were performed with a significance level of 0.05 and 95%CI.

Results:: There was a statistically significant increase of the knowledge on these types of accidents after the educational activities (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:: The activities carried out indicate that schools are important for the development and systematization of knowledge arising from reality.