Objective:

To prevent acute respiratory infections in health care institutions by means of the implementation of the program “Smile to tenderness: Education and health hand in hand with early childhood”.

Materials and methods:

A descriptive observational study with a mixed approach in 40 state institutions of the Department of Norte de Santander, Colombia was carried out with the participation of educational agents, parents, administrative staff, girls and boys. Actions were designed for the implementation of the program including workshops, seminars, dramatizations, puppet functions, consultancies and trainings. Leaflets, posters and stickers were delivered based on key practices of the comprehensive child disease strategy.

Results:

A total of 1331 parents, 242 educators, 108 administrative collaborators and 4781 children were benefited. The “key sanitation practice” proved to be an indispensable tool for the prevention of acute respiratory infection.

Conclusion:

Behaviors for the control of modifiable risk factors of respiratory infections were evidenced which allowed to raise awareness in the population on the adoption of healthy measures and practices.

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