Private Matters is a digital-first campaign that seeks to communicate to female undergraduates about the causes, symptoms, consequences and preventive behaviours of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and to increase adoption of preventive behaviours as a habit, to reduce the risk of contracting it.
Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 Singaporean women aged 20-65 contracts UTI annually? UTI is also the eighth leading cause of death in Singapore – higher than heart problems or even diabetes!
Despite its extreme pertinence and severity, the team found out that UTI was an issue that most females simply do not talk about. Worse still, those who were lucky enough to not have experienced it before were totally unaware about the issue. The team felt a need to close this information gap and communicate about UTI and to their peers and community (other female undergraduates). Hence, Private Matters was created.
Watch the video below to hear from Abigail, who reiterates her experience when we was diagnosed with UTI, and provides advice on how to prevent it.
The Highlights
More conversations and interest regarding UTI.
During roadshows, the team encountered people making multiple visits – some even came back three to four times with their friends, to encourage their peers to learn more about UTI.
The team also received messages from their online followers, who thanked them for initiating such an important campaign. A few of them even confided in the team with their personal health issues related to UTI. This showed that the campaign has reached a level of trust among the female undergraduates and how it had made a positive impact in their lives!
Expert opinion helps in credibility of project.
The team also had support from their medical experts from SGH and NUH Department of Urology throughout the course of the campaign. Tying up with the hospital proved extremely beneficial in terms of content fact-checking and guidance throughout the project.
The Memories
Reflection #1 – The Challenges
The team planned to roll out their campaign to all universities, targeting the female undergraduates in Singapore. While the campaign successfully partnered with NTU and NUS, it faced difficulties in partnering up with other local universities for offline engagements on their campuses. As such, the team relied a lot on their digital efforts (Facebook, Instagram, Website) and had to fine-tune the campaign to make sure that the message got through.
However, this challenge was a blessing in disguise as the team actually managed to gain even bigger traction on their social platforms! Partnering with Social Impact Week as a booth participant was also really helpful as it helped to kickstart the campaign’s publicity to the university students, who then followed the team on their campaign’s social media platforms.
Social Impact Week is a signature project led by NTU Welfare Services Club’s Growth & Opportunities! (WSC GO!) team in collaboration with other student organisations interested in community engagement.
Reflection #2 – The Takeaways
- Increased the awareness and knowledge levels of the target audience regarding UTI and improved their way they perceived health issues as well as encourage them to take charge of their health better.
- As a team, the members also learnt a lot on how to run a community engagement event! The team undertook most things themselves – from video planning and shooting, to manning booths in schools, creating their own website content to liaising with partners and sponsors. There were many things learnt outside the classroom, which the team members can apply to their daily lives.
- The biggest takeaway was that the team actually sparked change and a meaningful difference in the lives of female undergraduates. Even if it’s the smallest thing – such as one person drinking an extra cup of water (one of the preventive behaviours promoted) because she remembered the campaign, the team firmly believed that these little steps of change will create a big impact in the future.
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