Posters
Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Congenital syphilis is a significant public health issue that occurs when a pregnant woman with untreated syphilis transmits the infection to her unborn child, which can lead to severe health consequences such as developmental delay, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Despite the availability of effective treatments, the incidence of congenital syphilis has been increasing in recent years, particularly in certain populations such as women of color and those living in poverty. This project aims to better inform public health measures by leveraging social media as a data source for understanding community perspectives on syphilis prevention and management.
Methods: In this study, we conducted a Facebook-based retrospective analysis of community questions related to syphilis. Utilizing convenience sampling, data was collected from the UTRGV School of Medicine - Pediatrics "Prevent Congenital Syphilis" Facebook group from February 2021 to June 2023. The sample size consisted of 1,320 Facebook group members. Group member questions were categorized into 14 different categories, and the geographic distribution of users was determined based on the available profile information.
Results: Our analysis revealed that a total of 234 users actively engaged with the Facebook group by posting, commenting, or sending direct messages to the group administrators via Messenger. Among the 146 users with available geographic location data, 44.9% were from Africa, 13.7% from Asia, 2.3% from North America, and 0.9% from Europe. We observed representation from a total of 26 countries, with the top 3 countries of South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia representing 52.1% of our users. Overall, we identified 168 users who had questions directly related to syphilis. Notably, the highest number of questions pertained to Treatment & Medication with 82 total questions, Symptoms & Signs with 45 total questions, and Pregnancy & Congenital Syphilis with 29 total questions.
Conclusions: The utilization of social media platforms, such as Facebook, allows for a broader reach and greater engagement with communities worldwide. The active interest demonstrated by the engagement of users within the Facebook group indicates a strong willingness to seek information and clarification regarding syphilis-related topics. The significant number of questions regarding the treatment and symptoms of syphilis provides valuable insights that can guide the development of targeted outreach initiatives. The data collected in this study will be reviewed with the UTRGV SOM Prevent Congenital Syphilis team and the State of Texas DHSH who fund the project, incorporating their suggestions and expertise into the project going forward. We aim to collaborate with healthcare providers, public health organizations, and community stakeholders to implement targeted awareness campaigns. By leveraging the findings from this project, we seek to create impactful educational materials and campaigns that address the identified knowledge gaps and misconceptions, ultimately reducing the incidence of congenital syphilis. This study underscores the critical need for public health education, emphasizes the extensive influence of social media platforms, and demonstrates the strong engagement surrounding syphilis-related subjects.
Academic/Professional Position
Medical Student
Recommended Citation
Garza, Aryana and Nelson, Robert Jr., "Prevent Congenital Syphilis: A Facebook-Based Retrospective Analysis of Community Questions to Identify Gaps in Knowledge and Misconceptions" (2024). Research Symposium. 84.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2023/posters/84
Included in
Prevent Congenital Syphilis: A Facebook-Based Retrospective Analysis of Community Questions to Identify Gaps in Knowledge and Misconceptions
Background: Congenital syphilis is a significant public health issue that occurs when a pregnant woman with untreated syphilis transmits the infection to her unborn child, which can lead to severe health consequences such as developmental delay, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Despite the availability of effective treatments, the incidence of congenital syphilis has been increasing in recent years, particularly in certain populations such as women of color and those living in poverty. This project aims to better inform public health measures by leveraging social media as a data source for understanding community perspectives on syphilis prevention and management.
Methods: In this study, we conducted a Facebook-based retrospective analysis of community questions related to syphilis. Utilizing convenience sampling, data was collected from the UTRGV School of Medicine - Pediatrics "Prevent Congenital Syphilis" Facebook group from February 2021 to June 2023. The sample size consisted of 1,320 Facebook group members. Group member questions were categorized into 14 different categories, and the geographic distribution of users was determined based on the available profile information.
Results: Our analysis revealed that a total of 234 users actively engaged with the Facebook group by posting, commenting, or sending direct messages to the group administrators via Messenger. Among the 146 users with available geographic location data, 44.9% were from Africa, 13.7% from Asia, 2.3% from North America, and 0.9% from Europe. We observed representation from a total of 26 countries, with the top 3 countries of South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia representing 52.1% of our users. Overall, we identified 168 users who had questions directly related to syphilis. Notably, the highest number of questions pertained to Treatment & Medication with 82 total questions, Symptoms & Signs with 45 total questions, and Pregnancy & Congenital Syphilis with 29 total questions.
Conclusions: The utilization of social media platforms, such as Facebook, allows for a broader reach and greater engagement with communities worldwide. The active interest demonstrated by the engagement of users within the Facebook group indicates a strong willingness to seek information and clarification regarding syphilis-related topics. The significant number of questions regarding the treatment and symptoms of syphilis provides valuable insights that can guide the development of targeted outreach initiatives. The data collected in this study will be reviewed with the UTRGV SOM Prevent Congenital Syphilis team and the State of Texas DHSH who fund the project, incorporating their suggestions and expertise into the project going forward. We aim to collaborate with healthcare providers, public health organizations, and community stakeholders to implement targeted awareness campaigns. By leveraging the findings from this project, we seek to create impactful educational materials and campaigns that address the identified knowledge gaps and misconceptions, ultimately reducing the incidence of congenital syphilis. This study underscores the critical need for public health education, emphasizes the extensive influence of social media platforms, and demonstrates the strong engagement surrounding syphilis-related subjects.