Virtual social networks and health technologies in the daily life of clients and households: care and health promotion

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the use of technosociality in the daily lives of the Family Health Strategy clients during the COVID-19 pandemic for care and health promotion. This holistic, qualitative, multiple case study based on the Comprehensive Everyday Life Sociology was conducted with 61 clients from three Brazilian municipalities, two in Minas Gerais and one in Santa Catarina. The sources of evidence were the open-ended individual interview and field notes. We adopted thematic content analysis to analyze data. The use of virtual social networks and health technologies for care, monitoring, prevention of risks and conditions, health promotion, and access to information is found in clients’ daily lives. We highlight the importance of support and solidarity networks. The infodemic and misinformation about COVID-19 denote uncertainty about the veracity of information and concern about mental health. We should pay close attention to using technologies and social networks for health promotion, enabling strategies to enhance their use and minimize the indicated harms.

Key words:
Technology; Internet; Family Health Strategy; Social network; Health promotion