Avaliação da eficácia de um projeto educativo sobre o comportamento do cão e do gato
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Data
2020
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Os cães e os gatos são duas espécies com as quais os seres humanos convivem há
milhares de anos. Em ambos os casos as características de caça destes animais foram um
factor determinante para a sua associação com os humanos, o cão passou a desempenhar um
importante papel nas caçadas contribuindo para a obtenção de alimento, enquanto o gato foi
fundamental aquando do estabelecimento da agricultura, para controlar pragas. Esta ligação
evoluiu ao longo do tempo e atualmente estas espécies vivem com os seres humanos e
passaram a ter também a função de animais de companhia. Compreender os seus
comportamentos é essencial para que a relação interespécie seja segura, principalmente
quando esta envolve crianças. A dificuldade de interpretação das posturas comportamentais e
percepção do risco são factores que colocam em perigo a sua segurança.
Para diminuir a ocorrência de ataques e o risco associado às interações, e também para
aumentar o conhecimento das crianças sobre o comportamento dos cães e dos gatos, foi criado
um projeto educativo na Câmara Municipal de Almada. Este estudo teve como objetivos
avaliar a eficácia deste projeto educativo e ainda determinar se, e como, algumas variáveis
sociodemográficas, como o género, ano escolar e experiência prévia, se relacionam com o
conhecimento das crianças sobre ambas as espécies.
O estudo foi realizado em 13 escolas a um total de 458 crianças com idades
compreendidas entre os 3 e os 7 anos. Foi feita uma apresentação sobre o comportamento do
cão e do gato em ambiente de sala de aula. A fim de determinar o conhecimento das crianças
e a eficácia da apresentação, cada criança respondeu a um inquérito antes e após a
apresentação.
O estudo sugere que a apresentação tem efeitos positivos no conhecimento das
crianças. Foram ainda encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas no ano de
escolaridade e no contacto prévio com animais mas não entre os géneros.
Mais estudos são necessários para compreender a interpretação feita por crianças, sobretudo
sobre o comportamento dos gatos.
Dogs and cats have shared their lives with human for thousands of years. In both cases their hunting abilities were the reason for their close association with humans. Dogs were crucial in hunting while cats had a significant role to play in the establishment of agriculture working as pest control on barns. This connection has evolved over the years and now both species have occupied a place in our homes becoming companion animals. Understanding their behaviour is crucial for the inter-specie relationship to be safe, especially when children are involved. Lack of knowledge and poor risk perception are highly influential factors in unsafe behaviours towards animals. To lower the occurrence of attacks, and the risk associated with the interaction, and increase the knowledge of the children about this subject, it was created an educative project in Câmara Municipal de Almada and its efficiency was tested in this study. It was made a questionary fallowed by a presentation and then the questionary again, to a sample of children within the age range of 3 to 7 years old in a classroom environment. Comprehending if the gender, the school year and the before and after presentation have any influence in the results is a goal of this study. Another goal is to verify if the contact with these animals and the fear of them have any influence in the answers of the participants. This study showed an increase in score after the presentation. School year and previous contact with animals, but not gender, were found to be associated to the questionnaire score. These results suggest some level of efficiency of the project however more studies are necessary to better understand children interpretation of animal behaviour, particularly cats’.
Dogs and cats have shared their lives with human for thousands of years. In both cases their hunting abilities were the reason for their close association with humans. Dogs were crucial in hunting while cats had a significant role to play in the establishment of agriculture working as pest control on barns. This connection has evolved over the years and now both species have occupied a place in our homes becoming companion animals. Understanding their behaviour is crucial for the inter-specie relationship to be safe, especially when children are involved. Lack of knowledge and poor risk perception are highly influential factors in unsafe behaviours towards animals. To lower the occurrence of attacks, and the risk associated with the interaction, and increase the knowledge of the children about this subject, it was created an educative project in Câmara Municipal de Almada and its efficiency was tested in this study. It was made a questionary fallowed by a presentation and then the questionary again, to a sample of children within the age range of 3 to 7 years old in a classroom environment. Comprehending if the gender, the school year and the before and after presentation have any influence in the results is a goal of this study. Another goal is to verify if the contact with these animals and the fear of them have any influence in the answers of the participants. This study showed an increase in score after the presentation. School year and previous contact with animals, but not gender, were found to be associated to the questionnaire score. These results suggest some level of efficiency of the project however more studies are necessary to better understand children interpretation of animal behaviour, particularly cats’.
Descrição
Orientação: Raquel Matos
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO INTEGRADO EM MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, VETERINÁRIA, COMPORTAMENTO ANIMAL, CÃES, GATOS, PROJETOS EDUCATIVOS, CRIANÇAS, RISCO, VETERINARY MEDICINE, ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, DOGS, CATS, EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS, CHILDREN, RISK