| Title: | Assessing Facebook as a Medium for Awareness Campaign on Prevention and Management of Prostate Cancer among Men in Select LGAs of Enugu and Ebonyi State |
| Author(s): | Happiness Chinenye Nworie |
| Abstract: | Prostate cancer is a significant health issue affecting men worldwide, including Nigeria. Awareness and education about prevention and management are crucial to reduce incidence and improve outcome. Given the widespread use of social media, platforms like Facebook offer a valuable medium for health awareness campaign. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of Facebook in an awareness campaign against prostate cancer among Enugu and Ebonyi men; the level of knowledge, application and barriers which inhibit the application of Facebook messages on prevention and management of prostate cancer. A mixed method approach was employed combining quantitative survey and qualitative interviews to gather data on the reach, engagement and impact of Facebook-based awareness campaigns. The study was anchored on Health Belief Model. The findings of the study indicate that Facebook is a viable tool for health communication with high levels of user engagement and positive feedback on the informational content provided. The study highlights the importance of culturally tailored messages and interactive features in enhancing the effectiveness of social media campaigns. Based on the findings, the study recommended among other things that future campaigns should include leveraging targeted advertising, collaborating with local influencers, and integrating multi-media content to increase awareness and promote proactive health behaviours among men in these regions. This research underscores the potential of leveraging social media platforms like Facebook to address public health challenges in resource limited settings. |
| Keywords: | Assessment, Facebook, Awareness Campaign, Prostate cancer, Prevention, Management, Benign |
