Cuesta CU, Martínez ML, Niño GJI

Language: Spanish
References: 0
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ABSTRACT

Introduction: Introduction: Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide, with a high incidence among young people. Ignorance, prejudice and an active sexual life turn the young into a high-risk group for papillomavirus infection and its future development into cancer. Due to its popularity with youngsters, social networks like Facebook have become appropriate tools for sexual education interventions aimed at overcoming such barriers. Interventions will be more relevant and useful if account is taken of young people's opinions about the disease, their interests in this respect and the forms of communication they consider to be the most attractive.
Objective: the purpose of the study is to analyze young people's preferences concerning more interesting strategies and contents for a Facebook profile about papillomavirus leading to the design of attractive prevention campaigns and programs for social networks. Methods: to achieve this end, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted of the opinions, preferences and motivations of 120 university students using a questionnaire based on previous research findings.
Results: young people prefer specialist or institutional profiles. They are interested in tests, treatment, vaccines and prevention. The most attractive resources are multimedia, articles and testimonies, as well as a "community" and the possibility of making inquiries (in private for fear of criticism).
Conclusions: the study provides information about young people's preferences to be considered in the design of prevention strategies for social networks, so that they are really effective and foster understanding of the disease among the youth.