Assessing the attitudes and perceptions on use of social media technologies as health communication tools among environmental health professionals in Wakiso District, Uganda.

Abstract

Introduction; The use of social media technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok has gained popularity in recent years and it has been used in a variety of ways to improve health communication. One of the main advantages of using social media for health communication is the ability to reach a large and diverse audience. Additionally, social media technologies allow for real-time communication and engagement with communities, which can be particularly beneficial for EHPs working to address pressing public health issues. However, the extent to which environmental health professionals are using social media for health communication, and its effectiveness is not well understood. Objective; This study aims to bridge the knowledge gaps by examining the current state of attitudes and perceptions of use of social media as health communication tools among Environmental Health Professionals in Wakiso District, Uganda in order to improve their effectiveness during the delivery of health messages. Methods; The study was a cross-sectional design involving a survey among 47 EHPs in Wakiso district using physical questionnaires. Face to face interviews were conducted to explore Environmental Health Professionals’ attitudes and perceptions in using social media tools for health communication and to identify the challenges faced by them. Results; The majority of the respondents were age 31-40years, followed by 41-50years. The respondents were predominantly male. The highest proportion being certificate level holders followed by diploma. The majority of respondents were married. Health assistants comprised the largest professional group, followed by Health Inspectors. The majority of respondents reported using social media for health communication with WhatsApp being the most common. Most respondents perceived social media as effective for Health communication. However, concerns were raised about the safety of social media with credibility and privacy being top risks identified. Participants had mixed opinions regarding social media’s ability to facilitate better community engagement compared to traditional channels.