Uso do WhatsApp como tecnologia de comunicação-interação informação na educação em saúde de mulheres em Sinop-MT

Abstract

Information and communication technologies have become increasingly popular in society, bringing information online to different places, for anyone and at any time. Mobile apps like WhatsApp can be used as health education tools, specifically for women. That said, the present research aimed to analyze the use of WhatsApp as a communication and interaction technology in a health education group for women (mothers) in Sinop-MT. Methodology: This was a descriptive research, with a qualitative approach, carried out in a WhatsApp group entitled “Care Nest Mothers”, with women belonging to two Basic Health Units in the city of Sinop-MT. Data collection was carried out over a period of three months (October to December 2021) using three health education strategies such as: "G-Day", "Health tips" and "educational videos", the latter being based on the active methodology (Problem Based Learning). The approach, reception and insertion of the mothers took place through messages, phone calls and the online invitation with QR Code, totaling 56 participants. The capture and systematization of the empirical material for data analysis took place through the sociodemographic identification form provided by "google forms" and the records of the participants' messages, through the Thematic Content Analysis. The research was approved by CEP, under number 4.900.165. Results: The results found that punctual information, on a specific health topic, generated little or no interaction between the research subjects. This information also includes information that was made available through the proposed educational strategies. On the contrary, the doubts of the “mothers” participants presented themselves as mobilizing for greater communication-interaction between the members of the group. Doubts were answered by team members, other mothers, or both. Conclusion: WhatsApp points out as an information and communication technology through which health education can be carried out, as it favors communicability and interaction between its members, in addition to promoting a welcoming and rich environment in exchange of experiences, especially mobilized from the doubts of women.