A Social Media-driven Outreach Strategy for University Students on FASD

Allraum, Nicole; Lombardo, Katelyn; Hodgson, Jordan; Trinh, Hanna

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A Social Media-driven Outreach Strategy for University Students on FASD

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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a significant yet misunderstood disorder in the United Kingdom (UK), affecting as many as 1 in 13 babies born to mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy. Despite its prevalence, there is a notable lack of awareness, particularly among university students (primarily aged 18-25). Under the guidance of the National Organisation for FASD-UK, we assessed university drinking culture in the UK, university students’ knowledge levels of FASD, and existing successful campaigns targeted towards university students. We obtained data from 97 survey responses, 2 interviews, 2 focus groups, and a testimonial from a member of the organization with a personal connection to FASD. Our findings revealed low awareness levels of FASD and a prevailing culture of excessive alcohol consumption. We launched social media platforms to engage and educate university students on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Additionally, we created a comprehensive marketing plan as a resource for the continuance of our platforms and developed coasters for pubs near universities. These initiatives aimed to help FASD-UK outreach to young adults. We recommend that FASD-UK appoint a student intern to maintain the social media initiative, bridging the gap with the university students.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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