Facebook Users’ Perceptions of Facebook Information Dissemination for Drug Abuse Prevention in Afghanistan
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Abstract
The consumption of drugs remains a huge public health and social problem, particularly among young people. At the same time, the proliferation of social media has created new opportunities for the spread of health information and the promotion of public awareness. The study examined Facebook users’ perception of Facebook as a source of information for preventing drug misuse in Afghanistan. The study adopted a quantitative research design using a well-structured online questionnaire distributed through Google Forms. Data were collected from 305 respondents through an online questionnaire using convenience sampling and were analyzed using SPSS. The questionnaire comprised demographic questions and twelve items to measure respondents’ impressions of Facebook information dissemination on drug misuse prevention. The instrument demonstrated a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.890). Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics, normality assessment and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), including Welch's ANOVA where appropriate, were carried out. The results showed that the respondents generally considered Facebook a medium for providing credible information and for enhancing the public’s awareness of drug misuse prevention. Participants perceived Facebook as a positive tool for transmission of preventive messages, awareness campaigns, information on the detrimental effects of drug misuse and preventive measures. There were no major statistical differences in the perceptions between the age groups, education levels, or daily Facebook use. The study found that Facebook is generally considered a good medium for delivering information on the prevention of drug misuse. Useful evidence for policymakers, public health organisations and media agencies who want to improve digital health communication and public awareness campaigns in Afghanistan is provided by the findings.
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