[To evaluate the effect of health science popularization in child caregivers by using WeChat and Weibo as communication media].

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the effect of health science popularization in child caregivers by using social media of WeChat and Weibo in China in 2020. Methods: A questionnaire was designed based on the knowledge of children health from January to March 2020, and the public were invited to participate in the survey by visiting the official accounts of WeChat and Weibo of China CDC to analyze the awareness of health related knowledge and the change of daily behaviors in the child caregivers. Results: In the 1 325 child caregivers included in this survey, the awareness rate of chronic disease reexamine was lowest (74.94%), and the awareness rate of quality-oriented education was highest (99.55%). In the 7 questions in the questionnaire, the correct answer rate of the question about the reexamine of chronic disease was <75.00% (below the standard), the correct answer rate to other six questions were all ≥75.00% (above the standard). Logistic regression analysis showed that the education levels of senior high school or technical secondary school, junior college, bachelor's degree, master's degree or above, being worker, business/service personnel, teacher and company employee were the influencing factors for the awareness of the chronic disease related knowledge in child caregivers (all P<0.05). The daily behaviors of child caregivers after acquiring health knowledge were significantly improved (all P<0.001). Conclusions: In the season with high incidence of respiratory diseases, the use of new media platforms, such as WeChat and Weibo, to conduct health education had a good performance, resulting in higher rate of knowledge about healthy parenting and a significant improvement in daily behaviors in child caregivers. The results showed that the health education about the reexamine of chronic diseases in children should be focused on child caregivers with low education level, especially workers, business/service personnel.