Social and news media have different associations with risk perceptions and preventive behavior in an emerging health threat such as Zika, according to new research.
Zika virus
Floridians Took Zika Virus More Seriously Than Rest of U.S., But Most Did Nothing
Threatened by the mosquito-borne Zika virus in 2016, Florida residents were much more likely than non-Floridians to report taking protective measures. Even so, fewer than half of Floridians said they actually did so.
False Beliefs About MMR Vaccine Found to Influence Acceptance of Zika Vaccine
People’s willingness to use a Zika vaccine when it’s available will be influenced by how they weigh the risks associated with the disease and the vaccine, but also by their misconceptions about other vaccines, a new study has found.
Social Media Can Complement Surveys on Public Health Issues
An analysis of Twitter posts during the Zika outbreak in 2016 shows a correlation between Twitter topics and the results of nationwide U.S. surveys, according to researchers at APPC and the University of Illinois.
Public Trust in Science Spiked After News Reports of Zika Vaccine Trial
How can the public’s confidence in science be strengthened? A new study finding that public confidence in science spiked following coverage of the Zika vaccine trial in 2016 suggests a way to improve trust in science on a more sustained basis.