Avatars using computer/smartphone mediated communication and social networking in prevention of sexually transmitted diseases among North-Norwegian youngsters

• Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
• Main Authors: Gabarron, Elia, Serrano, J. Artur, Wynn, Rolf, Armayones, Manuel
• Other Authors: University Hospital of North Norway, University of Tromsø, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2012
• Subjects: sexually transmitted diseases; chlamydia; health information technologies; internet; health education; social network; social media; young adult; adolescent; enfermedades de transmisión sexual; clamidia; tecnologías de la información sanitaria; educación para la salud; red social; medios de comunicación social; adulto joven; adolescente; malalties de transmissió sexual; tecnologies de la informació sanitària; educació sanitaria; xarxa social; mitjans de comunicació social; adult jove; Educació sanitària; Educación sanitaria; Norway; North Norway
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10609/92215; https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-12-120

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterial infection, a common cause of infertility, are highly prevalent in developed countries, and a worrying problem in North Norway, where the incidence of chlamydia twice the Norwegian average. Seventy percent of reported chlamydia cases are found in people below 25 years of age, and although its spread could be controlled with proper prevention, young people are more aware of the risks of unwanted pregnancy than their risk of acquiring a STD. Information and Communication Technologies, including, the Internet, social media and/or smartphones, should be valued for sexual health promotion for their potential to engage young audiences. And in these media, avatars guarantee anonymity to users when handling sensitive information. The main objective of this project is to achieve that North Norwegian youngsters become more aware of STDs through the use of popular technologies among young people.