Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, School of Literature and Humanities, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
2 MSc, Knowledge and Information Science, Farhang Dehdasht Library, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Yasuj, Iran
3 Lecturer, Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, School of Literature and Humanities, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Due to the importance of women in nomad communities and their roles in family health and hygiene, it is vital to study their familiarity with and resources in this field. The aim of this study was to identify the information needs of nomad women of Kohgiluyeh, Iran, in the field of health and hygiene and how they use resources in this field.Methods: This applied research was conducted through survey method and using a researcher-made questionnaire and oral interviews with 235 nomad women.Results: The results showed that more than 60% of the studied individuals had elementary education and their most important motivation for accessing information was “helping their family to create a healthier life”. Respondents had high inclination toward accessing essential health information and about 56% of them reported their motivation to be very high. Moreover, about 34.9% of participants stated that the role of health centers in increasing their health information was low or very low. The findings also showed that about 59% of nomad women used more traditional sources of information (personal experience and the experience of others).Conclusion: Due to lack of access to necessary information resources among nomad women and the important role of women in nomad communities as a social and economic pillar of the family, it is vital that relevant authorities provide the necessary facilities to meet the information needs of these women.
Keywords
- Esfahani M. Health verse. Tehran, Iran: Tandies Publications; 2010. [In Persian].
- Babayi M. Information seeking behavior. Tehran, Iran: Institute for Scientific Information and Technology; 2008. p. 37. [In Persian].
- Miryan M. Investigation of educational needs of mothers of children who suffer from diabetes and that confer to two selected health-care centers dependent to health-care administration situated in Tehran city [Thesis]. Tehran, Iran: Iran Medical Science University; 1993. [In Persian].
- Panjvini S. Investigation of information needs of mothers of child's whit 0-5 years old that suffer from hard reportorial infection beneath bedfast in kid's hospital of Sanandaj city about their prevention at 1994 [Thesis]. Tehran, Iran: Iran Medical Science University; 1995. [In Persian].
- Ghobadi S. Investigation of educational needs of pregnant who confer health-care centers of Tehran city about self-observation in pregnancy period [Thesis]. Tehran, Iran: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences; 1996. [In Persian].
- Salehi M, Kimiagar SM, Shahbazi M, Kolahi AA, Mehrabi Y. Effect of education given to the nomadic women on the nutrition, health and hygiene of the tribe, and the role of nomadic women in development of nutrition culture and hygiene. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci 2004; 13(41): 55-63. [In Persian].
- Hampshire K. Networks of nomads: negotiating access to health resources among pastoralist women in Chad. Soc Sci Med 2002; 54(7): 1025-37.
- Abu Bakar AB. Information seeking behaviours of rural women in Malaysia [Online]. [cited 2011]; Available from: URL: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/461
- Nwagwu W, Ajama M. Woman's health information needs and information sources: A study of a rural oil palm business in South-Western Nigeria. Annals of library and information studies 2011; 58: 270-81.
- Garman J. Medical genetics, public understanding & patient experiences: An exploratory qualitative study of recently pregnant women [Thesis]. Los Angeles, CA: California State University; 2013.
- Fisher K, Frdelez S, McKechnie L. Theories of information behavior. Trans. Bigdeli Z, Zare Farashbandi F, Haji Zeinolabedini M, Heidari Gh. Tehran, Iran: Ketabdar Publications; 2009.
)