LEVEL OF USE OF INFORMATION ON HEALTH LITERACY BY HEPATITIS PATIENTS IN SPECIALIST HOSPITALS IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the level and use of information on health literacy by hepatitis patients in specialist hospitals in North-central, Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives and two corresponding research questions. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The total population for the study was 1,700 hepatitis patients and 20 medical librarians in the specialist hospitals studied. The sample size of the population was 313 drawn from Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size table for determining the sample size of a population. Questionnaire and observation checklist were the instruments used for data collection. 313 copies of questionnaire administered, 254 copies were filled, returned and used for the analysis. Descriptive statistical tool involving frequency counts and percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that no library irrespective of the type or kind can achieve its goals and objectives of meeting the information needs of users without the provision of adequate and current information resources as well as effective and efficient service delivery. Factors such as inadequate number of librarians, insufficient current information resources, lack of awareness of resources and services rendered by the specialist hospitals to mention but a few were major factors confronting the level of health literacy among hepatitis patients. It was recommended that, the management of specialist hospitals should encourage the high use of library by hepatitis patients through provision of Internet services and current information resources, hepatitis patients should use the information provided to know how hepatitis is controlled, go for routine check-ups and improve their health status as well as take care of the drugs and avoid transmitting the virus to others.