COVID-19 Infographics in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the usage of social media platforms and infographics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. The study focuses on the infographics posted on Twitter accounts, including the official Saudi Ministry of Health and other governmental and private healthcare sectors. The aim of the study is to assess the response to COVID-19 infographics by analyzing their engagement metrics and to explore the topics and contents of COVID-19 infographics. A total of 166 infographics posted between January and June 2022 were analyzed using a cross-sectional design. The study explores various variables, including infographic characteristics, stand-alone effectiveness, initiation of actions, direct references to COVID-19, graphic representations, and text density. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, and frequencies and percentages were used to describe categorical variables. The mean and standard deviation were used for continuous quantitative variables. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were employed to compare outcomes between the official MOH account and other health sectors. The results showed that 77.7% of infographics mentioned references or sources, and 56% were text heavy. Graphics were present in 56% of infographics, and 31.3% were structured. The majority (86.8%) of infographics were stand-alone entities. Moreover, 83.1% included data or information, and 57.8% focused on COVID-19 prevention aspects, with vaccination being the predominant topic (69.8%). Infographics with quotes had a statistically significant association with the number of likes, retweets, and quotes. Graphic representation and text density were also significantly associated with the number of likes and retweets for the infographics. The study underscores the importance of social media platforms and infographics in effective crisis communication during the pandemic and highlights areas for improving information dissemination and engagement with the public.