Last modified: 2019-10-10
Abstract
The use of social media to gather information could be a threat regarding the reliability of the information. This paper aims to assess the use of government health organization official social media account in providing health-related information. Method: This study employs quantitative non-experimental design and analyze the data using descriptive cross-sectional method. We measured the use and the reach of the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts of 34 provinces in Indonesia, as well as the topics of the posts. Results: About 47% of the province health offices have at least one social media account. The highest reach and engagement rate are shown by the Instagram accounts. Less than a half of the posts of all platforms relate to health information. Conclusion: The use of social media by the province health offices in spreading health information is still low. Further study in factors affecting the interactivity in health-related posts is needed.