Confronting the Infodemic and Fake News to End Stigma and Discrimination in HIV/AIDS: Promoting Zero Discrimination Practices in Brazil With Massive Open Online Course

Abstract

Introduction Overcoming misinformation is essential considering stigma and discrimination in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This report presents the preliminary results of a health education strategy based on the massive open online course (MOOC) on Zero Discrimination in Brazil. Methods Case study describing the development of the MOOC and its validation using the Delphi technique. Pre- and posttests were administered. People who enrolled from October 2021 to March 2022 were included in the study. Results and discussion MOOC was made available free of charge for mobile phones, tablets, and desktops and included a 90-hr study certificate. Over 6 months, there were n = 665 people enrolled from different regions, mainly from the health field or working in the public health system. The completion rate of people included in the study (26.62%; n = 177) was above the average for other MOOCs. Conclusions Initial results are promising but demand more extensive monitoring.