Introduction:

Intestinal parasitosis is a global health problem. Its complications in children under 5 years of age address both the physical and social and psychological spheres; Being a health problem, it is necessary to maintain an adequate knowledge of its characteristics.

Objective:

To identify the level of knowledge that parents and caregivers of children under five years of age who attend the Type C Lasso Health Center, Cotopaxi, have on parasitism, December 2021-February 2022.

Methods:

Basic, non-experimental, descriptive and cross-sectional research that included 156 parents and caregivers of children under 5 years of age. The sample was made up of 96 people. A survey was applied to identify the general characteristics of the people and their level of knowledge related to some elements related to parasitosis.

Results:

Average age of 27.18 years; predominance of female persons (85.42 %); with a secondary education level (76.04 %), housewives (83.33%) and with a low income level (88.54 %). Inadequate levels of knowledge were identified in relation to the type of parasites (62.50 %), clinical manifestations (85.42 %), complications (76.04 %) and prevention (60.42 %). Only in relation to the forms of transmission of parasitism, a predominantly adequate level of knowledge was identified (63.54 %).

Conclusions:

The results of the study show that the predominant level of knowledge in the parents and caregivers of the children of the Tanicuchí, Guaytacama and Pastocalle communities about intestinal parasitism is inadequate.

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