Academic and Research Skills

Advocacy

Community Pediatrics

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

General Pediatrics

Global Neonatal & Children's Health

Health Equity/Social Determinants of Health

Public Health

Global Child Health: Identifying and Addressing Misinformation about Child Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Chair(s)

• RM

  Rishi Mediratta, MD, MSc, MA (he/him/his)

  Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
  Pediatrics
  Stanford University School of Medicine
  Palo Alto, California, United States

Session

Description: Unfortunately, the spread of misinformation related to child health has been exacerbated over the last several years. Misinformation jeopardizes the success of global neonatal and child health programs and policies designed to promote healthy behaviors and prevent illnesses. Furthermore, misleading information erodes the public’s trust in medical and public health authorities and has contributed to the displacement and death of children. This session will focus on global perspectives on combating misinformation related to neonatal, child, and adolescent health. The panel of experts will review how misinformation about vaccines has impacted children, highlight how misinformation has been understood and addressed at a community level in India, describe the World Health Organization’s approach to combating misinformation globally, and outline the best evidence strategies to address the misinformation crisis.

Moderator: Rishi Mediratta

Rishi Mediratta - Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine (10 minutes)
Suzinne Pak-Gorstein - Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington (10 minutes)
Aarti Kumar - CEO & Co-Founder, Community Empowerment Lab (15 minutes)
Saad Omer - Director, Yale Institute for Global Health, Yale University (15 minutes)
Tina Purnat - Team Lead for Infodemic Management, World Health Organization (15 minutes)
Discussion/Moderated Q&A/Wrap up: Rishi Mediratta (25 minutes)

Possible questions to address:
How can pediatricians reduce the impact of medical misinformation on child health topics globally?
What are the responsibilities of pediatricians in combating misinformation?
What can researchers, clinicians, and educators do in their global health work to make a difference?

Presentations:

• 2:00 PM – 2:10 PM ET

  A Global Landscape on Child Health Misinformation
  

  Speaker: Rishi Mediratta, MD, MSc, MA (he/him/his) – Stanford University School of Medicine
• 2:10 PM – 2:20 PM ET

  Conceptual Models, Drivers, and Evidenced-Based Strategies to Address Misinformation
  

  Speaker: Suzinne Pak-Gorstein, MD PhD MPH (she/her/hers) – University of Washington School of Medicine
• 2:20 PM – 2:35 PM ET

  Community Perspectives on Child Health-related Misinformation in Uttar Pradesh
  

  Speaker: Aarti Kumar, MS – Community Empowerment Lab
• 2:35 PM – 2:50 PM ET

  Combating the Impact of Vaccine Hesitancy on Childhood Illnesses
  

  Speaker: Saad Omer, MBBS MPH PhD FIDSA – Yale University
• 2:50 PM – 3:05 PM ET

  World Health Organization's Initiatives for Addressing Child Health Misinformation
  

  Speaker: Tina D. Purnat, MSc, PMP FAIDH (she/her/hers) – World Health Organization
• 3:05 PM – 3:30 PM ET

  Discussion/Moderated Q&A/Wrap up
  

  Speaker: Rishi Mediratta, MD, MSc, MA (he/him/his) – Stanford University School of Medicine