Health Education Project on Syphilis in the Covid-19 pandemic through social media: An experience report

• Autor(a) principal: França, João Victor Coimbra
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Araújo, Isabel Bacelar Fontenele, Barros, Luis Felipe Rodrigues Brandão de, Camboim, Luiz Fernando Reis, Costa, Rafael Everton Assunção Ribeiro da, Maia Filho, Antônio Luiz Martins, Monte, Samylla Miranda, Marques, Rosemarie Brandim
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/14341
• topic: Syphilis; Health education; COVID-19.; Sífilis; Educación en salud; COVID-19.; Sífilis; Educação em Saúde; COVID-19.

Introduction: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are major public health issues, bringing many consequences to the world population. Syphilis is an STI caused by the Treponema pallidum bactéria and constitutes a substantial disease of the Brazilian health scenery, due to the increase of cases in past years. Objective: To describe the remote activities on social media of a health education project about syphilis, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and analyzing its impacts on the community. Methodology: The current project used the Instagram® digital platform to divulge fliers concerning the disease, answer the target audience’s questions, and also collect data on the theme from social media users. Results: The results were quantified according to the weekly post views. The initial flier on Syphilis accomplished a total reach of 2513 views and, in the subsequent posting weeks, there were totals of 7847, 1037, 1058, 3793, and 2481 views on each topic, respectively. Final Considerations: It is noteworthy that, initially, the university extension project was supposed to be presential, not only using rapid syphilis detection tests but also presenting lectures to a necessitous community in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. However, the activity had to be adapted to digital means, on account of measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic recommended by health authorities. Still, despite the impossibility to carry on the initial planning, the project achieved a satisfactory reach, to the point of even being divulged by the online platforms of the State University of Piauí.