Health Information needs and health information seeking behavior among small farmers at Kilimanjaro Region – Tanzania.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health information needs and health information seeking behavior of small scale farmers. In a survey questionnaire that was triangulated with interviews and observation, a random sample of 241 small scale farmers - 150 men and 91 female - were selected from 264 households in two (2) nearby villages namely; Marangu and Rombo. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data. The research considered the mechanisms, procedures and methods to effectively identify health information needs and seeking behavior. The results showed that a predominant 90% had little or no formal education (standard seven, 42%; and not educated, 48%) whilst there were no significant differences between genders at different educational levels compared. Sources/formats of information available to respondents were found to be inappropriate and did not adequately meet their health information needs (books, 31%; magazines, 28; and seminars, 14%). The three most appropriate and preferred formats/sources of respondents’ health information needs were found to include radio (47%), television set (15%) and village clinic (18%). The purposes for which respondents required health information included disease prevention, 32%, treatment of disease, 23%, transmission of disease, 23%, the care and support for disease, 14%, and disease counseling, 8%. Poverty and low level of education were the two most dominant factors that were found to have significant influence on respondents’ information needs and information seeking behavior. Suggestions made to improve the information needs of farmers included a community radio service, a community clinic, and functional literacy programs, training in the use of mobile phones that will facilitate communication of health information between and among respondents. The use of community health outreach services through community health meetings, workshops or seminars have also been recommended to help to improve on the health information gap of rural farmers. It is envisaged that these suggestions, if implemented, will go a long way to positively impact on their health information needs, enable them stay healthy and improve on their farming business for self as well as socio-economic development.