The use of Facebook in health education: perceptions of adolescent students

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 265 - 271
• Main Authors: Aragão, Joyce Mazza Nunes, Gubert, Fabiane do Amaral, Torres, Raimundo Augusto Martins, Silva, Andréa Soares Rocha da, Vieira, Neiva Francenely Cunha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem 01-03-2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Communication; Digital broadcasting; Educação em Saúde; Enfermagem; Estratégia Saúde da Família; Female; Health education; Health Education - standards; Health Education - trends; Humans; Internet; Learning management systems; Male; Medical personnel; Perception; Qualitative Research; Reproductive health; Reproductive Health - education; Saúde do Adolescente; Saúde Sexual; Social Media - trends; Social networks; Students - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers
• ISSN: 0034-7167; 1984-0446; 1984-0446
• DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0604

understand the perceptions of adolescent students regarding the use of Facebook social media in sexual and reproductive health learning in the Family Health Strategy.
a qualitative, descriptive study developed with 96 adolescents from a public school and a private school in Fortaleza-CE who concluded an educational intervention using Facebook. The information was collected in the online environment itself, as well as in a questionnaire applied in person. For the collection and analysis of this information, netnography was used.
Facebook contributed to the sexual and reproductive health education in an interactive, playful and practical way, reducing the embarrassment of some adolescents to converse on the subject, and brought adolescents closer to the health service, by strengthening their bond with Health professionals.
health professionals should recognize that such virtual spaces on the Internet offer potential for the production of health care, especially among adolescents.