scholarly journals An Overview of Social Media Use in the Field of Public Health Nutrition: Benefits, Scope, Limitations, and a Latin American Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny Mendoza-Herrera ◽  
Isabel Valero-Morales ◽  
Maria E. Ocampo-Granados ◽  
Hortensia Reyes-Morales ◽  
Fernanda Arce-Amaré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Public Health Nutrition ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
American Experience

scholarly journals The Influence of Social Media use on Practice of Covid-19 Preventive Measures Among Ethiopian Residents: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Abinet Arega Sadore ◽  
Demelash Woldeyohannes Handiso ◽  
Tekle Ejajo Wontamo ◽  
Dejene Ermias Mekango ◽  
Sisay Moges
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Preventive Practice ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background: Infection with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a severe public health issue worldwide. A broad amount of information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was disseminated by social media in Ethiopia. To date, there is limited evidence on the influence of social media use for covid-19 related information on covid-19 preventive practice. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of social media use on the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures in Ethiopia. Methods: This study employed an anonymous internet-based online cross-sectional survey using Google forms to collects the data from the respondents from 15 May to 17 June 2020 in Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between social media usage as a predictor and COVID-19 preventive practice, after adjusting for socio-demographic and risk perception of COVID-19 variables. The data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 372 respondents have participated in the study. From 372, 208(55.9%) respondents in this study were male. Study participants who had good utilization of social media to get COVID-19 related information were 9.5 times engaged in COVID-19 preventive practices compared to study participants who had poor utilization of social media to get covid-19 related information (AOR= 9.59, 95% CI = 5.70 - 16.13). Also, study participants who had a high-risk perception of COVID-19 were 2.6 times engaged in COVID-19 practices compared to study participants who had a low-risk perception of covid-19 (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.58 - 4.38). Study participants who were students at the time of this study were four times more likely to show adequate COVID-19 preventive practice score compared to those who had another occupational status (AOR= 4.07, 95% CI= 1.66 - 9.98) Conclusions: Our results show that the usage of social media networks can have a positive effect on the practice of preventive measures and public safety against COVID-19; high-risk perception contributed to preventive activities against COVID-19. Social networking platforms can be used by public health agencies as an important method to raise public health understanding by disseminating concise messages to targeted audiences.

scholarly journals Social Media Use, eHealth Literacy, Disease Knowledge, and Preventive Behaviors in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study on Chinese Netizens

10.2196/19684 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. e19684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Li ◽  
Qinliang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Preventive Behaviors ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Disease Knowledge ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Media Types

Background Since its outbreak in January 2020, COVID-19 has quickly spread worldwide and has become a global pandemic. Social media platforms have been recognized as important tools for health-promoting practices in public health, and the use of social media is widespread among the public. However, little is known about the effects of social media use on health promotion during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Objective In this study, we aimed to explore the predictive role of social media use on public preventive behaviors in China during the COVID-19 pandemic and how disease knowledge and eHealth literacy moderated the relationship between social media use and preventive behaviors. Methods A national web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted by a proportionate probability sampling among 802 Chinese internet users (“netizens”) in February 2020. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical multiple regressions were employed to examine and explore the relationships among all the variables. Results Almost half the 802 study participants were male (416, 51.9%), and the average age of the participants was 32.65 years. Most of the 802 participants had high education levels (624, 77.7%), had high income >¥5000 (US $736.29) (525, 65.3%), were married (496, 61.8%), and were in good health (486, 60.6%). The average time of social media use was approximately 2 to 3 hours per day (mean 2.34 hours, SD 1.11), and the most frequently used media types were public social media (mean score 4.49/5, SD 0.78) and aggregated social media (mean score 4.07/5, SD 1.07). Social media use frequency (β=.20, P<.001) rather than time significantly predicted preventive behaviors for COVID-19. Respondents were also equipped with high levels of disease knowledge (mean score 8.15/10, SD 1.43) and eHealth literacy (mean score 3.79/5, SD 0.59). Disease knowledge (β=.11, P=.001) and eHealth literacy (β=.27, P<.001) were also significant predictors of preventive behaviors. Furthermore, eHealth literacy (P=.038) and disease knowledge (P=.03) positively moderated the relationship between social media use frequency and preventive behaviors, while eHealth literacy (β=.07) affected this relationship positively and disease knowledge (β=–.07) affected it negatively. Different social media types differed in predicting an individual’s preventive behaviors for COVID-19. Aggregated social media (β=.22, P<.001) was the best predictor, followed by public social media (β=.14, P<.001) and professional social media (β=.11, P=.002). However, official social media (β=.02, P=.597) was an insignificant predictor. Conclusions Social media is an effective tool to promote behaviors to prevent COVID-19 among the public. Health literacy is essential for promotion of individual health and influences the extent to which the public engages in preventive behaviors during a pandemic. Our results not only enrich the theoretical paradigm of public health management and health communication but also have practical implications in pandemic control for China and other countries.

Public health implications of social media use during natural disasters, environmental disasters, and other environmental concerns

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 729-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn C. Finch ◽  
Kassandra R. Snook ◽  
Carmen H. Duke ◽  
King-Wa Fu ◽  
Zion Tsz Ho Tse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Health Implications ◽  
Environmental Disasters

Retiring the Flip Phones: Exploring Social Media Use for Managing Public Health Incidents

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 859-867
Author(s):  
Yasmin Khan ◽  
Shannon Tracey ◽  
Tracey O’Sullivan ◽  
Effie Gournis ◽  
Ian Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Use Of Social Media

ABSTRACTObjective:Communication is essential during public health emergencies and incidents. This research aimed to understand current uses and challenges for public health agencies using social media during these incidents.Methods:An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted using the structured interview matrix facilitation technique. Focus groups were held with professionals from local public health agencies across Ontario, Canada. Representation from different geographic regions was sought to capture differences in participant experience. An inductive approach to content analysis was used to identify emergent themes.Results:A diverse group of public health professionals (n = 36) participated. Six themes were identified. Social media is identified as a communication tool used to expand reach of messages, to engage in dialogue with the public, and to inform the scope of potential incidents. Barriers to its use include hesitancy to adapt, lack of trust and credibility, and organizational structure and capacity constraints. Key strategies proposed to promote social media use and address barriers resulted from participant discussions and are presented.Conclusion:Social media use is highly variable across public health agencies in Ontario. This study identifies and provides strategies to address barriers and practice gaps related to public health agencies’ use of social media during emergencies.

Social Media Use in Emergency Response to Natural Disasters: A Systematic Review With a Public Health Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamalich Muniz-Rodriguez ◽  
Sylvia K. Ofori ◽  
Lauren C. Bayliss ◽  
Jessica S. Schwind ◽  
Kadiatou Diallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Media Analysis ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Wide Range

ABSTRACTSocial media research during natural disasters has been presented as a tool to guide response and relief efforts in the disciplines of geography and computer sciences. This systematic review highlights the public health implications of social media use in the response phase of the emergency, assessing (1) how social media can improve the dissemination of emergency warning and response information during and after a natural disaster, and (2) how social media can help identify physical, medical, functional, and emotional needs after a natural disaster. We surveyed the literature using 3 databases and included 44 research articles. We found that analyses of social media data were performed using a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. Social media platforms were identified as broadcasting tools presenting an opportunity for public health agencies to share emergency warnings. Social media was used as a tool to identify areas in need of relief operations or medical assistance by using self-reported location, with map development as a common method to visualize data. In retrospective analyses, social media analysis showed promise as an opportunity to reduce the time of response and to identify the individuals’ location. Further research for misinformation and rumor control using social media is needed.

Social media in Latin America: deepening or bridging gaps in protest participation?

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 695-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastián Valenzuela ◽  
Nicolás M. Somma ◽  
Andrés Scherman ◽  
Arturo Arriagada
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Advanced Democracies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between social media use and protest participation in Latin America. It advances two questions. First, does social media increase the chances of protest participation at the individual level, as prior research shows for advanced democracies? Second, in a region with glaring economic and political inequalities, does social media deepen or reduce the gaps in protest participation that exist among men and women, the young and the old, different social classes, or people with varying levels of political engagement? Design/methodology/approach The paper uses cross-sectional Latin American Public Opinion Project survey data from 2012 representing the adult population of 17 Latin American countries. It presents binary logistic regression models with protest participation as the dependent variable, social media use for political purposes as the main independent variable, control variables, and interactions. Findings Using social media for political purposes significantly increases protest chances – it is the second strongest predictor. Additionally, social media reduces protest gaps associated with individuals’ age, gender, psychological engagement with politics, and recruitment networks. Originality/value First, the paper shows that the contribution of social media to collective protest travels beyond advanced democracies – it also holds for more unequal regions with weaker democratic trajectories like Latin America. Second, it shows that social media may mitigate participatory inequalities not only, as shown by past research, regarding institutional participation (e.g. voting), but also regarding contentious tactics.

scholarly journals Going deeper: Social media use and the development of democratic attitudes in Latin America

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Salzman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Latin American ◽  
News Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Developing Regions ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Latin Americans ◽  
Democratic Attitudes ◽  
American States

The deepening of democracy in developing regions requires that individuals support their political systems not only through democratic behaviours but also through the continual strengthening of democratic attitudes. Traditional news media have long held a favoured position when it comes to understanding democracy. Now social media has emerged as a new and exciting communication technology. This project explores social media use and the unique way in which media affect Latin Americans’ attitudes. Empirical analysis of survey data from eight Latin American states supports social media as a ‘public sphere’ where participants hold attitudes that are more democratic, separable from traditional media as well as general Internet use.

Social media use by young Latin American consumers: An exploration

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 10-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainsworth Anthony Bailey ◽  
Carolyn M. Bonifield ◽  
Alejandro Arias
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use
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