O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a contaminação ambiental do solo por parasitos em praças públicas de seis municípios da região sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram visitadas dez praças, sendo analisadas 10 amostras de solo de cada uma destas localidades, totalizando 100 amostras. A técnica empregada para a pesquisa de parasitos no solo foi a de Caldwell & Caldwell adaptada por Pessoa & Martins. Constatou-se contaminação parasitária em 41% (41) das amostras e todas as praças avaliadas possuíam ao menos uma amostra positiva. O parasito de maior frequência foi Toxocara spp., presente em 25% das amostras, seguido pela superfamília Strongyloidea (possivelmente ancilostomídeos) (11%), por Ascaris spp. (4%) e Trichuris spp. (2%), dentre outros. Também foi identificada a presença de cães e suas fezes na maioria dos locais avaliados. Evidencia-se a possibilidade da transmissão de helmintoses aos usuários destas praças, especialmente larva migrans visceral, larva migrans cutânea e enteroparasitoses. Os resultados ressaltam a importância da implementação de medidas preventivas cujo intuito seja minimizar a contaminação fecal do solo de áreas públicas destinadas ao lazer. Para isso, o esclarecimento da população, o controle de animais errantes e a posse responsável dos animais são as principais alternativas.

Introduction:The Housing Improvement Program for Chagas Disease Control (HIPCDC) was established in 2001 in Northwestern Rio Grande do Sul State, aiming to improve the conditions of the domiciliary and peridomiciliary environments to make them resistant to triatomine colonization. This study aimed to assess the impact of the HIPCDC on triatomine control by developing local population and authority awareness on the issue. Methods: The study was conducted by means of questionnaires applied to local authorities and the program beneficiaries. Three municipalities -Ajuricaba, Coronel Barros, and Crissiumal -were visited. Results: A program coordinator from each municipality and 62 individuals from selected households were interviewed. The authorities reported difficulties in the implementation of the program due to differences between the project development period and financial resource availability, in addition to a lack of understanding by the community not included in the program. As for the houses, most improvements were made in the peridomiciliary environments; moreover, construction of 4 new residences, as well as the renovation of others, was also reported. Regarding suggestions to the program, requests for better planning (44.9%) and renovation quality (36.7%) were highlighted. With reference to the presence of triatomine bugs, prior to the HIPCDC adaptations, 12.9% of the respondents reported coming across at least one specimen at home, as compared to 22.6% who found these insects in peridomiciliary areas. Conclusions: Despite reports of difficulties in carrying out the HIPCDC, there was an improvement in the housing conditions, with no triatomine occurrence reports after the program implementation.

A Política Nacional dos Resíduos Sólidos – PNRS define que os municípios devem implantar um Programa de Coleta Seletiva (PCS), que visa o recolhimento de resíduos sólidos gerados pela população, previamente segregados conforme constituição ou composição. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar a participação da população residente no bairro central no PCS do Município de Pelotas-RS. A pesquisa foi realizada através de questionário à população residente na área central do município, perfazendo um total de 177 residências amostradas. Foi constatado que 94,4% dos entrevistados demonstraram ter conhecimento sobre a diferenciação dos resíduos orgânico e reciclável. Do total entrevistado, 85,3% segregam os resíduos em suas residências e 78,53% conhecem o PCS e realizam a segregação e disponibilização dos resíduos para a coleta seletiva. O estudo permitiu afirmar, que a maioria da população residente na área central participa ativamente do PCS na cidade, porém 40% do material que chega às cooperativas de triagem é considerado rejeito, sendo essa uma das fragilidades do PCS municipal. Considera-se pertinente estudar as populações residentes nos demais bairros da cidade, a fim de compreender o baixo índice de resíduos recicláveis recolhidos pelo PCS.

Several studies have shown that the population has relatively little information regarding Chagas disease (CD) and its vectors; however, this knowledge is relevant because community participation is vital for success in disease control actions. For this reason, and due to the lack of audiovisual material on this subject in the country, this study focused on making an educational documentary on CD and its vectors, which could be available to the population for free. The video preparation was divided into three phases: Pre-production, Production and Post-production. The site chosen for shooting was northwestern Rio Grande do Sul State due to the Triatoma infestans vector persistence in recent decades in that area. A documentary was obtained which addresses relevant CD aspects, such as its history, transmission, major vectors and biology, phases of the disease and, in particular, how to inspect the intra-domiciliary and peri-domiciliary areas in search of triatomine bugs or "kissing bugs". The use of videos as an educational tool helps broadcast information; therefore, this documentary is a public use tool, which aims to promote the control and prophylaxis of CD and its vectors.

Parasites are often a public health hazard, especially among schoolchildren. The transmission of these parasites is associated with poor hygiene and sanitation, as well as close contact between people. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren from the rural and urban areas of the Palmeira das Missões county, a major town in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul State. Fecal samples from 209 schoolchildren aged three to fourteen were analyzed. The Hoffman, Pons and Janer, Faust, Ritchie, and Kinyoun's stain for coccidea parasite detection techniques were applied. 59.3% of the patients were positive for pathogenic or commensal parasites. The most common parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba coli, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp., respectively. There were no significant differences in positivity among schoolchildren from rural and urban areas. Low family income and the mothers' schooling (up to 8 years of education) were statistically significant for the presence of parasites. This is the first parasite study carried out in the Palmeira das Missões county.