Environmental education in the view of public health teachers: a descriptive exploratory study

Abstract

Aim: to analyze the vision of professors of public health on environmental education. Method: This is a qualitative study, of the descriptive-exploratory type, conducted with eight teachers of collective health at an institution of higher education in southern Brazil who were intentionally selected. Data were collected from August to October 2011, through semi-structured interviews, and investigated based on the proposed framework for content analysis. Results: Subjects believed that environmental education involves awareness and behavioral changes, and these should also add criticality to social environmental, biological and cultural issues, and others as important as the action of environmental preservation. Discussion: It appears that the approach to the subject was incipient. For this reason, there is need for formal inclusion of the subject in the curriculum of undergraduate courses. Conclusion: It is concluded to be necessary to foster a debate among teachers and educational institutions, with a view to include environmental education in vocational training in health.