Plantas tóxicas : conhecimento de populares para prevenção de acidentes

Abstract

In Brazil, intoxications by toxic plants are a public health problem, and difficulty in the identification of these species is the main cause of the problem. Hardly ever people know about the toxic potential of plant species, so the objective of this study was evaluate the popular knowledge in Francisco Santos - PI about toxic plants. 101 forms were randomly applied to the residents of the town, which were previously informed about the content of the research. It was verified that knowledge about toxic plants is usually empirical, which does not guarantee accuracy of people information. There is a knowledge deficit about the subject, demonstrated when observed data about treatment in case of accidental consumption. Many interviewers have received some kind of information about prevention of accidents by toxic plants. It was established the need to implement educational strategies capable of providing to the population information about the toxicity of some plants, changing bad habits and preventing intoxication.