Meeting Health Information Needs of People with HIV and AIDS through Public Library Services in Benue State.
ABSTRACT
The study is on meeting the health information needs of people living with HIV and AIDS through public library services in Benue State. Five research questions were developed to guide the study. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study.
The population of the study was 16,502 and the sample was 748. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. A 46 and 50 items structured questionnaire was developed for public librarians and PLWHA respectively from literature and used for data collection.
Experts validated the instruments Cronbach alpha method was used in determining the reliability of the instrument. A reliability coefficient of .786 and .893 for public librarians and PLWHA respectively were obtained.
The findings of the research shows that PLWHA have health information needs such as information of treatments of tuberculosis, fever, body itching, diarrhea among others. Public libraries in Benue State provide only four services in meeting the health information needs of PLWHA.
These include; photocopying, loan, reference and current awareness services. The major methods employed by public libraries in meeting health information needs of PLWHA are: through newspapers, textbooks, journals/magazines and posters.
Several problems militate against meeting the health information needs of PLWHA, such as: inadequate fund/budgetary allocation to public libraries, low remuneration to public librarians, and inadequate staff among others.
The recommendations based on the findings were that, public libraries in Benue state should acquire health information resources in the areas of the needs of PLWHA and process same SDI services should be provided by public libraries for PLWHA to meet their health information needs.
Benue State government should provide adequate funds/budgetary allocations to equip public libraries. Government should employ more staff. And harmonize the salary structure of the public librarians alongside with their counter parts in other organizations.
Government should set aside a special grant for PLWHA to alleviate their poverty and encourage them to access the services of public libraries, more public libraries should be established in Benue State, to repackage health information in various formats and translate programmes in local languages for the illiterate PLWHA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – – – i
Approval Page – – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification Page – – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – – – v
Table of contents – – – – – – – – – vii
List of Tables – – – – – – – – – – ix
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – – x
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of study- – – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the problem – – – – – – – – 10
Purpose of the study – – – – – – – – 13
Research questions – – – – – – – – – 14
Research hypotheses – – – – – – – – 14
Significance of the study – – – – – – – – 15
Scope of the study – – – – – – – – – 16
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Conceptual Framework – – – – – – – – 17
The concept of Health – – – – – – – – 18
The concept of Health Information – – – – – – 22
The concept of Information Needs- – – – – – – 22
Types of Health Information Needs – – – – – – 25
The concept of Human Immuno deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 32
The concept of Public Library Services – – – – – – 40
Public Library Services – – – – – – – – 40
Awareness of Information Services – – – – – – 49
Methods of Disseminating Health Information – – – – – 50
Problems Encountered in Providing Public Library Services – – – 58
Strategies for Enhancing the Public Library Services – – – – 64
Theoretical Framework – – – – – – – – 70
The Demand Theory – – – – – – – – 70
The Health Belief Theory – – – – – – – – 71
Disconfirmation Theory – – – – – – – – 71
Econometric Theory of the Relationship between Health Information and
Demand for Medical Services – – – – – – – 72
The Information “Use” and User Behaviour Theory – – – – 73
Empirical Studies – – – – – – – – – 74
Summary of the Review – – – – – – – – 79
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS
Design of the study – – – – – – – – – 81
Area of study – – – – – – – – – 81
Population of the study – – – – – – – – 82
Sample and sampling technique – – – – – – – 82
Instrument for data collection – – – – – – – 83
Validity of instrument – – – – – – – – 84
Reliability of instrument – – – – – – – – 84
Method of data collection – – – – – – – – 85
Method of data analysis – – – – – – – – 85
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA – 87
Major findings – – – – – – – – 100
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDING, CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion of Findings – – – – – – – – 102
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – – 109
Implications of the Study – – – – – – – – 110
Recommendations – – – – – – – – – 112
Suggestions for Further Research – – – – – – – 115
Limitations of the Study – – – – – – – – – 115
Summary of the Study – – – – – – – – 116
REFERENCES – – – – – – – – – 119
INTRODUCTION
Health is the general well being of a . Every human being and hopes for good health. The World Organization (WHO) in Anshi (2007) has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
According to Pender (2000), health is the actualization of inherent and acquired human potentials through goal directed behaviours, competent self-care and satisfying with others.
The health of an can be seen as the extent of his or her continuing physical, emotional, mental and social ability to cope with the environment.
As maintained by Priery (2006), health is most cherished and takes the upper and central task of not only the individual, but government and other established groups.
WHO (1979), stated that health is wealth therefore a healthy person is a wealthy person. It then implies that one who is not healthy is not wealthy.
Remaining healthy is the priority of every individual .This is because good health is a treasure of inestimable value. When there is preference of disease, such a health condition is said to be bad.
It has implications for individual and national economic activities. Indeed, the health of the people not only contributes to better quality of life but also essential for sustained economic and social development of a country as a whole.
Abiodum and Kolade (2006), asserts that, people who are ill and weak find it difficult to carry out their responsibilities.
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