Evaluation of the effects of an exhibition about childbirth on the visitors’ perception, knowledge and behavior.

Author: Bernardo Oliveira – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil

Co-authors:
Amélia Friche – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Sí´nia Lansky – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Maria Oliveira – Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Eliane Peixoto
Kleyde Santos – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

This works presents the results of the project Senses of Birth (sentidosdonascer.org), an interactive exhibition about childbirth that aims to decrease the high rates of cesarean-section and prematurity in Brazil, a relevant public health issue. The exhibit combines different languages (digital arts and theatrical techniques) “‹”‹and displays (videos, photos, scenarios, and posters) in order to involve and excite the visitor and to provoke reflection, as well as providing up-to-date information based on scientific evidence.

Since 2015, the exhibition has been displayed 12 times in wide-circulation public spaces in five Brazilian cities, where it received 38,448 visitors – an average of 183 visitors per day of operation.

The effects of the exhibit were investigated with the purpose to improve childbirth care and health public policies and scientific communication. We used multi-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data, to analyze the change in the audience’s knowledge and perceptions, before and after visiting the exhibit.

Subsequently, trying to understand the effects of these changes on the visitors’ behavior, we did a follow up 1 year later. We contacted by email and telephone the 1290 pregnant women who visited the exhibition in 2015 and 2016, asking – among other issues – how was their childbirth, whether they considered the exhibition had influenced positively or not, and how.

Our focus in this work is the analysis of the socioeconomic profile of the visitors, changes on their opinions and the influence of the exhibition on pregnant women. We also seek to discuss methodological issues and highlight the contribution that expositions of this kind can bring to the debate of science communication.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Show, tell and talk
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Investigating science communication practices