RELYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS IN PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR AMONG YOUTHS: WITH WHAT RESULT?

Abstract

Using social media to drive public health campaign has become more very common in today’s digital society. The whole idea of using interactive and highly engaging platforms have spurred the use of social media to promote health related information in the recent years. To this end, this study sought to examine the social media awareness campaigns in promoting positive behaviour for the treatment and control of prostate cancer in Lagos State. The broad objective is to know to what extent social media awareness campaigns have deepened audience knowledge on the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. The study utilized survey design through the use of Google form, an online questionnaire that was systematically share to 400 sampled respondents (the sample size was determined using Taro Yamani from a population male residents in Lagos, estimated to be 9,288,000) in Lagos Mainland. The purposive and accidental sampling methods were used to reach the sample. The results followed a univariate approach by providing descriptive information and interpretation of each unique variables in simple tables, chart and percentages, as well as determining the mean scores. The results show that majority that make up 61.4% of the total are adequately exposed to prostate awareness on social media. On the extent of knowledge spread and propagated through such campaigns up to 75.5% and 76% confirmed that it deepened their knowledge and it provided all they know about the sickness. Respondents confirmed that the messages they saw captured treatments, screening, intervention and other useful information, to the point where they are ready to submit to preventive treatments and screening. The study concludes that social media have become the right channel to promote healthy information for prostate cancer treatment and control.

Keywords: Awareness, Cancer, Health Campaigns, Prostate Cancer, Public Health, Social Media