[Drinking water and garbage: customs and beliefs among schoolchildren of a marginal population]

A study of 80 children from 6th and 7th grades was conducted to determine their beliefs and behaviours about drinking-water and garbage management. The children come, in their totality, from a poor suburban population of the north of Buenos Aires. The survey showed that most of the children kept some drinking-water provision at home. Therefore, they had to collect, treat, and store the water. The pupils had correct knowledge about the process of contamination and some adequate behaviours concerning the hygiene of collection containers, but also showed inadequate conceptions about the protection of such containers and water treatment. The children reported inadequate behaviours and incorrect beliefs about the elimination of garbage. These results establish the need for teaching-learning experiences designed to reinforce correct knowledge and behaviours and modify the incorrect ones.