(Dis)infodemic during the -19 pandemic and the communicative rationality in health in Brazil: an integrative review

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic triggered an infodemic characterized by the massive spread of fake news, harming health in the digital age. This article aims to analyze the links between infodemic, misinformation, and fake news. The method used was an integrative review of scientific articles from 2020 to 2025, combining different Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS/MESH) such as “Infodemia,” “Covid-19,” “Fake news,” and “Notícias falsas” in the two largest open-access scientific databases in Brazil (BVS and SciELO). The results highlighted challenges in public health communication and strategies to mitigate the effects of misinformation, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of a communicative rationality in health. It was observed that the infodemic aggravated vaccine hesitancy, generated distrust in institutions, impacted adherence to protective measures, and affected the daily lives of individuals and their practices in the relationship between the offer of care and the demands for healthcare in the country. The need to strengthen digital literacy and public communication policies in the SUS, as well as strategies for Popular Health Education and public participation, was identified. It is concluded that addressing the infodemic requires intersectoral and coordinated actions between government, media, and society, as well as broad discussions on the accountability of digital platforms.