EDUCATIONAL ACTIONS

EDUCATION AND HEALTH ON INSTAGRAM @POPULARIZANDOACIENCIA

Abstract

This experience report presents health education actions carried out in extension project “Popularizando a Ciencia”, at the State University of Southwest Bahia, Vitória da Conquista campus. The objective is to share educational experiences between professors and students of the Biological Sciences course, addressing different viruses of public health interest through publications on Instagram. It was
possible to observe that the partnership promoted a positive experience for the students who were able to elaborate and appropriate scientific content through qualified and easy-to- understand material. The use of different didactic elements was used and prioritized, such as satire, charge and figures. The topics chosen were viruses that can impact public health and are frequent in Brazil, causing diseases
such as Monkeypox, HIV (Aids), HBV (Hepatitis B), HSV (Herpes Simplex), Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV), HAV (Hepatitis A) and Morbillivirus (Measles). The materials were prepared and published on the “Popularizando a Ciencia” Instagram account, from July to September 2022. Based on the publications, account engagement was considered, such as likes on posts, shares and saved publications. The profile of the public that interacted with the publications (gender, age group) and which publications were most successful among followers of the Instagram profile were analyzed. It was identified that the main consumers of content are young women. Publications on HPV and Monkeypox were the topics of greatest interest, considering views, likes and saved publications. The action allowed a positive and constructive experience for its members, contributing with knowledge on the topic of “virus” and combating fake news, encouraging students to produce safe scientific content.