Health Care Information Needs and Behaviour of Home-Based Elderly People in Kenya: A Case Study of Nakuru District, Kenya

Abstract

This article reports on findings of a study which investigated the information needs of the home-based elderly in Nakuru District, Kenya. A qualitative approach was followed in data collection and analysis. Findings showed that personal factors, including literacy and language capacity, memory constraints, physical impairment, influence their Information Behaviour (IB) in varied ways. Similarly, environmental factors, including health-care services, financial resources, cultural traditions, and education, determine how they access, use or avoid information. Insights gained proved the value of understanding the role of IB in information services.