Information Seeking Behaviour of Elderly Persons in Wudil Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to ascertain the information needs and seeking behaviour of elderly persons in Wudil Local Government Area,  Kano State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for the study is a descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprises the  elderly persons in Wudil LG.A. Fifty respondents were selected via the accidental sampling technique from each of the wards in Wudil  LGA, which amounted to 500 respondents used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire. Out  of the 500 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the respondents, the researchers were able to retrieve 468 copies of the questionnaire from the respondents, thus there was a 94% response rate. The method of data analysis adopted was descriptive statistics  covering frequency count and percentage displayed on tables for clarity. The findings of the study revealed that the information needs of  elderly persons in Wudil LGA were on health/ wellbeing, pension/ finance, covid-19 disease, government policies, among others. The  elderly persons rely on family members/ friends, physician/ medical practitioner, age group meetings, radio/ television, traditionalist/  herbalist, among others for their information needs. The elderly persons use the information they get to make informed health decisions,  to get sources of finances available for them, to understand government policies, to be committed to all religious obligations,  among others. The challenges that militate against the accessibility and use of information by the elderly persons are inadequate funds, locating information required is cumbersome, poor internet searching skills, language barriers, difficulty in interpreting information,  among others. It was recommended from the study that the government should pass the information on their policy for the elderly  persons via town criers and other interpersonal sources, information should be passed to the elderly persons in their local dialect to  eradicate language barriers that may arise, and the government should ensure the pensions and other financial benefits meant for the  elderly persons are paid as at when due to enhance their well being and access to information.