Impact of Sickle Cell Awareness Day on online health information seeking in Africa using Google Trends

Bibliographic Data

ID22945581
AuthorsEmma Parry (0000-0002-6066-2765, Keele University), Idayat Ayinla-Jimoh (0009-0005-5389-5703, Keele University), Thomas Shepherd (0000-0002-8311-7452, Keele University)
Year2023
Volume38
Issue6
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daad152
PMID38041809
OpenAlexW4389262329
LanguageEN
References cited35

The United Nations Council Assembly recognized sickle cell disease (SCD) as a global public health problem due to its increasing burden, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. To raise awareness, a resolution was adopted, designating June 19th as SCD awareness day. However, the impact of this awareness day on online health information seeking behaviour (OHISB) in African countries is not well understood, especially in Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda where SCD prevalence is high. To assess the impact, the study used Google Trends data as a measure of OHISB for SCD. The analysis covered the 60 days before the awareness day, the awareness day itself, and the 60 days afterward. Time series analysis was conducted using joinpoint regression to identify significant changes in OHISB trends. The results indicated that the impact of the Sickle Cell Awareness Day on OHISB varied across African countries and did not consistently inspire significant changes in information seeking behaviour. This suggests the need for more targeted awareness campaigns to improve public knowledge of SCD in Africa. It also highlights the importance of revising the current awareness day or creating alternative health awareness initiatives that adopt a long-term approach and address the specific health needs of the African population. Furthermore, due to limitations in using Google Trends data in some African countries with insufficient data, future research should explore other sources of internet data or conduct surveys to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the Sickle Cell Awareness Day on OHISB in Africa.

Developing country · Economic growth · Environmental health · Population · Public health · The Internet · Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders · Iron Metabolism and Disorders · Medicine · Nursing · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy