Medicamentos e seu descarte no ensino de química: atividades educacionais envolvendo saúde e cidadania

Abstract

The productions in science and technology provided advances in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals, especially in relation to medicines. The benefits arising from these drugs, together with the encouragement of consumption by the media, created a belief in society in relation to these products. Such aspects have contributed both to the indiscriminate use and to the creation of home pharmacies, in which the medicines are stored until the expiration date, or remain in the places even if expired, which could cause an accidental ingestion. Disposal of this product often occurs inappropriately, as well as its use. Among the measures aimed at reducing this problem are educational actions aimed at problem-posing and joint construction, in relation to the use and disposal of medicines. Therefore, the interest in addressing the topic “Medicines” in the classroom emerged, through educational activities that related scientific concepts with the sociocultural context of the students. The objective was to identify and understand the perceptions of third-year high school students in relation to the use and disposal of medications and to address aspects involving the subject through educational activities. In reference to this goal, the intention was to provide moments of reflection, addressing controversies regarding the production, use and disposal of medicines and their social and environmental impacts. For this purpose, 10 hours/class were used and, due to the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, educational activities were carried out in a non-presential mode. The methodology used to conduct the investigation focused on qualitative research. Data were formed from an initial questionnaire, textual productions elaborated by the students and the researcher's logbook. For data analysis, the assumptions of Content Analysis were considered. The results showed that medicines are products present in people's lives, since all participants contained them in their homes. Evidences of the practice of self-medication were also found, as well as the presence of expressions related only to the benefits of medicines, referring to the belief of these products in society. However, the proposed approaches made it possible for students to reflect on aspects related to the theme, with the intention of both helping to change the perception of medications and providing more contextualized, meaningful teaching that promotes education for health and citizenship. The research originated as a product an e-book that presents the educational activities proposed in the research, aiming to bring the topic “Medicines” closer to education.