ReviewAfrican journal of primary health care & family medicine2026
Evaluating the efficacy of digital media platforms in disseminating public health information: A global review with implications for South Africa.
Review in African journal of primary health care & family medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Political ideology, sociodemographic factors, and social media health information engagement among U.S. adults: evidence from HINTS 2024.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study employs a non-empirical review to examine how digital media platforms support public health education and awareness, with specific relevance to the South African context.
aimTo explore the use of digital media in disseminating public health information and its implications for improving citizens' awareness and health literacy. Drawing on global evidence, the review highlights relevance for South Africa's digital communication landscape.
methodThe review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across databases including Google Scholars, EBSCOhost, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Sabinet, ProQuest, Scopus and MEDLINE. Studies were selected using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 15 peer-reviewed full text articles published between January 2019 and March 2023. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument, and findings were synthesised thematically.
resultsFindings indicate that digital media use reduces misinformation, strengthens social support networks, enhances the reach and efficiency of health information, and promotes positive health behaviours. Improvements in health knowledge and engagement were observed across diverse populations. However, challenges such as digital literacy gaps, unequal access to digital platforms, and algorithmic bias remain significant concerns.
conclusionDigital media represents a transformative tool for public health communication. When strategically implemented, it enhances awareness, supports behaviour change, and strengthens public engagement with health information.Contribution: The review highlights the importance of collaboration between health professionals and digital communication specialists to optimise digital strategies. It underscores policy imperatives such as improving digital literacy, ensuring equitable access, strengthening regulation of online health information, and fostering public-private partnership to improve health outcomes in South Africa.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.