Analysis of cervical cancer content on Instagram

Authors

Keywords:

Digital Public Health, Internet, Disinformation, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Human Papillomavirus Viruses

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the reliability of cervical cancer content published on Instagram.

Method: A descriptive, documentary research study that analyzed Instagram posts about cervical cancer, selected through the hashtags #câncerdecolodeútero, #hpv, #vacinahpv, and #vacinacontraohpv, in May 2025. The first 50 posts from the “relevant” tab were analyzed for each hashtag. Information reliability was assessed using internationally validated methodologies for measuring health information quality.

Results: 55% of posts were considered reliable, 33% of moderate reliability, 10% unreliable, and 2% inconsistent. Of all posts, 47.27% were related to the thematic axis of prevention and 14.54% to diagnosis. Widespread circulation of low-reliability information about cervical cancer prevention was identified.

Conclusion: The identification of content with low informational quality highlights a concern in the context of health communication on social media.

Author Biographies

Luana Oliveira Rodrigues, Federal University of Amapá. Macapá, AP, Brazil.

Medical student. Federal University of Amapá. Macapá, AP, Brazil.

Luane Julyelle Duarte Pantoja, Federal University of Amapá. Macapá, AP, Brazil.

Medical student. Federal University of Amapá. Macapá, AP, Brazil.

Beatriz Graça de Araújo Moraes Moraes, State University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.

Nurse. Master's student in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health Nursing at the State University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.

Nayara Gonçalves Barbosa, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

 

Nurse. PhD in Child and Adolescent Health. Professor in the Postgraduate Nursing Program at the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Thais de Oliveira Gozzo, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health Nursing at the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Flávia Azevedo Gomes-Sponholz, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Public Health Nursing. Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health Nursing at the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Lise Maria Carvalho Mendes, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Public Health Nursing. Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Nursing for Care-Education. Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil.

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Published

2026-05-28

How to Cite

Rodrigues, L. O., Pantoja, L. J. D., Moraes, B. G. de A. M., Barbosa, N. G., Gozzo, T. de O., Gomes-Sponholz, F. A., & Mendes, L. M. C. (2026). Analysis of cervical cancer content on Instagram . Cogitare Enfermagem, 31. Retrieved from https://revistas.ufpr.br/cogitare/article/view/101891

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Section

Original Articles