LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF HEALTH DISINFORMATION IN BRAZIL BASED ON FACT-CHECKS BY AGÊNCIA LUPA

Authors

  • Mayara Wasty Nascimento de Farias Federal University of Pernambuco image/svg+xml
  • Nadi Helena Presser Federal University of Pernambuco image/svg+xml
  • Sara Martínez Cardama Carlos III University of Madrid

Keywords:

health disinformation, fact-checking, longitudinal analysis, digital platforms

Abstract

Health-related misinformation has established itself as a major contemporary
challenge, particularly in digital environments that amplify content circulation and influence
individual and collective decisions. This exploratory study analyzes thematic, discursive, and
sociotechnical variations observed in 184 fact-checks published in Agência Lupa’s Health
section between 2021 and 2025. The corpus comprises 30 records from 2021, no records
retrieved from the section in 2022, 35 from 2023, 66 from 2024, and 53 from 2025. A mixedmethods
approach was adopted, involving the description of annual frequencies and content
analysis. The editorial labels assigned by Agência Lupa were treated separately from the
analytical categories developed by the authors. A year-by-year comparison indicates the
persistence of anti-vaccine narratives and unproven cures, alongside thematic diversification
following the peak of the pandemic. The most recent records in the corpus also feature the
appropriation of authority, personal accounts, manipulated videos, deepfakes, and content
linked to product sales. While these findings describe trends within the selected set of factchecks,
they do not allow for a definitive estimate of the overall prevalence of health-related
misinformation in Brazil. The results highlight the adaptive nature of health-related
misinformation and underscore the need for strategies that go beyond reactive fact-checking,
incorporating digital and scientific information literacy initiatives to strengthen the
population's critical thinking skills.

Author Biographies

  • Mayara Wasty Nascimento de Farias, Federal University of Pernambuco

    Ph.D. Candidate in Information Science at the Graduate Program in Information Science of the Federal University of Pernambuco (PPGCI/UFPE), with international academic experience through a visiting doctoral fellowship at Carlos III University of Madrid. Holds a Master’s degree in Information Science from the Federal University of Alagoas (PPGCI/UFAL), a post-graduate specialization in Communication Advisory from Faculdade do Leste Mineiro (FACULESTE), and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication with a concentration in Journalism from the Federal University of Alagoas. She is a member of the Interdisciplinary Information Studies Observatory (Observinter) research group, with work focused on interdisciplinary approaches in the field of Information Science.

  • Nadi Helena Presser, Federal University of Pernambuco

    Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (1990) from the Faculty of Human Sciences of Palmas/Paraná (FACEPAL), as well as a Master’s (1999) and a Ph.D. (2005) in Production Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016) in Information Science at Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain. Associate Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), teaching in undergraduate and graduate programs in Information Science and in the Professional Master’s Program in Public Management. Served as Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Information Science (PPGCI/UFPE) from 2020 to 2021 and as Scientific Editor of the journal Navus - Gestão e Tecnologia from 2011 to 2022. Leader of the research group Prospecção e Práxis em Gestão da Informação (Prospection and Praxis in Information Management). CNPq Research Productivity Fellow. Her research interests include: information management, disinformation, health information, and serious games with Large Language Models (LLMs).

  • Sara Martínez Cardama, Carlos III University of Madrid

    Holds a Ph.D. with an International Doctorate Mention and Extraordinary Doctorate Award from Carlos III University of Madrid. Earned a Master's degree in Research in Documentation (2009–2011) from Carlos III University of Madrid, graduating with highest honors (Extraordinary Master's Award). Holds a Bachelor's degree and Diploma in Documentation from the University of A Coruña, recognized with a National Academic Award. Recipient of the prestigious FPU Fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education for university teacher training. Currently serves as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at Carlos III University of Madrid. Accredited by ANECA for a Tenure-Track position (Professora Titular / Associate Professor).

Downloads

Published

2026-11-13

Conference Proceedings Volume

2026: XXVI ENCONTRO NACIONAL DE PESQUISA E PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM CIÊNCIA DA INFORMAÇÃO

Section

GT 11 – Informação & Saúde

Categories