Digital Health Literacy during COVID-19: gender differences from a Florentine University experience

Abstract   Gender appears to be a strong predictor of online health information-seeking behaviour (OHISB). Gender differences in OHISB have been studied in different countries with different results, but no studies investigated gender-specific behaviour among University students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought with it a consequential infodemic. We sought to investigate any gender differences in OHISB in the period between the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire promoted by the COVID-HL network was administered to 2996 students of all the courses at the University of Florence. It included existing validated scales adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic and newly developed scales. Gender differences were tested using the χ2 test or the Mann-Whitney U test, where appropriate. Male students reported a higher score in DHL than females (p < 0.001). However, female students reported using more often different sources for online information seeking (p < 0.05, except for YouTube), searching more corona-related topics (p < 0.05, except for economic and social consequences) and considering ‘‘very important'’ each item in the ‘‘Importance of internet information search'’ section (p < 0.05). Furthermore, female students are more likely to be ‘‘often dissatisfied'’ or ‘‘partly satisfied'’ with information about COVID-19 (p < 0.001) and to search more often for information for themselves and other people. Our study confirmed that gender could affect the way students search for health information on the Internet. Since students, in particular females, have been affected by stress and anxiety during the pandemic, these findings could help institutions to promote gender-specific education programmes to improve students’ DHL and their mental health outcomes, as well as to provide health information that fit specific gender needs. Key messages • Gender influences how university students search on the Internet for health information. • This should guide institutions to better address educational programmes to improve their Digital Health Literacy.

Gender appears to be a strong predictor of online health information-seeking behaviour (OHISB). Gender differences in OHISB have been studied in different countries with different results, but no studies investigated gender-specific behaviour among University students during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought with it a consequential infodemic. We sought to investigate any gender differences in OHISB in the period between the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire promoted by the COVID-HL network was administered to 2996 students of all the courses at the University of Florence. It included existing validated scales adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic and newly developed scales. Gender differences were tested using the 2 test or the Mann-Whitney U test, where appropriate. Male students reported a higher score in DHL than females (p < 0.001). However, female students reported using more often different sources for online information seeking (p < 0.05, except for YouTube), searching more corona-related topics (p < 0.05, except for economic and social consequences) and considering ''very important'' each item in the ''Importance of internet information search'' section (p < 0.05). Furthermore, female students are more likely to be ''often dissatisfied'' or ''partly satisfied'' with information about COVID-19 (p < 0.001) and to search more often for information for themselves and other people. Our study confirmed that gender could affect the way students search for health information on the Internet. Since students, in particular females, have been affected by stress and anxiety during the pandemic, these findings could help institutions to

Background:
Infections with S. haematobium are endemic in tropical regions and emerging in some European countries. Prolonged chronic infection with S. haematobium can cause Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), which can lead to serious gynecological conditions, including infertility. However, awareness of FGS is limited, as are adequate guidelines and public health strategies to manage the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the levels and quality of FGS awareness among women and healthcare workers (HCW) in the Boeny region of Madagascar, where the disease is endemic.

Methods:
Data collection involved a cross-sectional survey of adult women (n = 694) and HCWs (n = 93) on topics, such as respondents' sociodemographic background characteristics, FGS awareness, and risk perceptions. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics including proportions and 95% confidence intervals.

Conclusions:
Preliminary results show overall low levels of FGS awareness among the study population. While more women reported to have never heard of FGS than HCW, the proportion of HCWs who did not know the gynecological and urological symptoms of FGS was higher. Given the occurrence of FGS in Europe and the chronic character of the disease it would be crucial to conduct similar investigations in Europe. Such findings can contribute to the design of targeted local and global FGS awareness campaigns to improve the health of women affected by this disease worldwide.

Key messages:
Awareness of FGS among the study population in Madagascar, an endemic country, is low. Lack of awareness can delay the identification of the disease and increase individual and community burden.
iii552 European Journal of Public Health, Volume 32 Supplement 3, 2022