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IntroductionThe Baependi Heart Study is the first studies in Brazil clustering families for analyze the relationship between genetic and cardiovascular risk factors [1][2][3][4][5][6]. It had started in 2005 with partnerships among some Brazilian Universities for research and outreach projects.Then, ten years later, in March, 2015 a new project was developed and it couldn't be more promising. It was called The Baependi "Little Heart" Study. It was related to child and adolescent education for prevention of cardiovascular risk factors in schools of three different cities. Local teachers keep disseminating concepts related to health promotion after learning this method, since the goal is to reduce non-communicable chronic diseases, a major cause of global morbidity and mortality have followed it.The aim of this project was introduce concepts about prevention of some prevalent diseases in this country, improving physical activity and food inhabits, in a simple and cheap method to teach children about serious matter in a playful way.
MethodsWe worked using puppets (named Insulin, Pancreas, Heart, Carrot and so on) to teach about prevention of cardiovascular diseases, healthy lifestyle, hygiene habits and prevention of epidemic diseases (Figure 1). It was mean to be fun for the kids. We needed only the play designed for this purpose, puppets and a frame with a curtain. And sometimes a microphone and an amplifier, for a large audience. The method is flexible in a matter of how to work on it. Students of medical, nutrition, and nursey schools were responsible for developing of activities at school, and sometimes the actors holding the puppets behind scenario could be the children (Figure 2). Universities for research and outreach projects. Ten years later, a new project was developed. It was related to child and adolescent education for prevention of cardiovascular risk factors in school, followed by local teachers who continued to disseminate health promotion, since the goal is to reduce non-communicable chronic diseases, a major cause of global morbidity and mortality.