Tuberculosis awareness created through Facebook: a case study approach of TB Proof South Africa’s Facebook page

Abstract

Health promotion is an educational tool that can be used to educate and create awareness of health issues through various media forms. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of TB Proof South Africa‘s Facebook page in creating TB awareness. The literature on TB, social media, health promotional campaigns and health promotional models was reviewed to contextualise this study. A qualitative case study approach was used to collect data from TB Proof South Africa‘s Facebook page. Data was collected using three data collection methods; namely, online ethnographic observation, textual analysis and visual analysis. The findings indicate that TB Proof South Africa‘s Facebook page creates awareness of TB. Results from this study also suggested collaboration between South African healthcare professionals and traditional health practitioners in the fight against tuberculosis. The study advocates the need for comparative studies to explore the use of other health-related Facebook pages.

Gesondheidsbevordering is ʼn opvoedkundige werktuig wat gebruik kan word om op te voed en bewustheid van gesondheidskwessies deur middel van verskeie mediavorme te skep. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die gebruik van TB Proof South Africa se Facebook-blad in die skepping van TB-bewustheid te verken. Leesstof oor TB, sosiale media, gesondheidsbevorderingsveldtogte en gesondheidsbevorderingsmodelle is beoordeel om hierdie studie te kontekstualiseer. ‘n Kwalitatiewe gevallestudiebenadering is gebruik om data van TB Proof South Africa se Facebook-blad in te samel. Data is ingesamel deur gebruikmaking van drie data-insamelingsmetodes, naamlik aanlyn etnografiese waarneming, teksontleding en visuele ontleding. Die bevindings dui daarop dat TB Proof South Africa se Facebook-blad bewustheid van TB skep. Resultate van hierdie studie beveel ook samewerking tussen Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorgberoepslui en tradisionele gesondheidspraktisyns in die stryd teen tuberkulose aan. Die studie bepleit die behoefte aan vergelykende studies om die gebruik van ander gesondheidsverwante Facebook-blaaie te verken.