Measuring functions and structure of environmental attitudes from environmental educators in public sanitation ( Medición de las funciones y la estructura de las actitudes ambientales de los educadores ambientales en el ámbito del saneamiento público )

Abstract

Environmental education towards sanitation can be effective to promote water conservation in a cycle of use framework. Considering attitudes as main determinants of pro-environmental behaviour and the need to expand knowledge from an educator’s point of view, this research aimed to comprehend the relations between environmental education and the development of environmental attitudes from sanitation workers. Group differences in activity execution and age were investigated. A mixed-method research design was conducted in a Brazilian sanitation company, CASAN, in two phases. In phase 1, 119 workers from treatment plants where environmental education is performed were submitted a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Environmental Attitudes Inventory. Data submitted to descriptive and comparative analyses indicated higher levels for preservation and general environmental attitudes for younger workers. In phase 2, 19 environmental educators were interviewed and their data submitted to content analysis to verify attitude functions. Participants confirmed the importance of performing activities for environmental attitudes development; institutional determinants were discussed, considering workers’ role in the promotion of natural resources conservation and adequate sanitation.