A dataset from a survey on children's knowledge of entomology in Yucatan, Mexico

Yucatan, Mexico is a region where vector-borne diseases are commonly found. It is crucial for children to be able to distinguish between dangerous arthropods and those that are beneficial to the environment and humans. The study's goal was to assess schoolchildren's knowledge of entomology. Data were collected between October 2023 and June 2024. An intervention study was conducted in basic education schools. At the beginning of the study, a visual diagnostic test was applied to measure the children's knowledge about insects and arachnids. The intervention consisted of giving talks about the biology of arthropods, with emphasis on those that suck blood and transmit pathogens. In addition, the schoolchildren, accompanied by entomologists, collected arthropods in the school yard and observed them under a microscope. After the intervention, the same visual diagnostic test was applied to evaluate change in knowledge of entomology.