Library Progress (International)
Year : 2010, Volume : 30, Issue : 1
First page : ( 83) Last page : ( 96)
Print ISSN : 0970-1052. Online ISSN : 2320-317X.

Health information literacy: An effective means of weight gain in infant malnutrition: A pilot study

Ajayi N. A.*, Principal Librarian, Adewale T. O.**, Principal Librarian

Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

*Email: nathajayi@yahoo.co.uk

**Email: dotunike@yahoo.com

Abstract

The study is about using health nutritional information literacy to gain weight in children with malnutrition. To show that poverty may be responsible for the increase in infant malnutrition. That low literacy level play a significant role in child malnutrition and accessibility to adequate and timely health information is an effective means of reducing malnutrition. Thirty-three mothers were randomly selected to participate in the study. They were divided into two groups controlled and uncontrolled. The controlled were given a series of health education with adequate nutrition information through a medium which they understood. The uncontrolled was left to attend routine clinic. The study lasted for 3 months. Structured pretested questionnaires were used to analysis the results. The ages of children ranged between 1 and 5 years. Many of the mothers were semi-illiterates due to low educational background. Their average monthly income was just about ten thousand (N10,000.00) Naira (US$77.0) which is not enough to maintain a child. Language barrier was identified as a major impediment to the understanding of nutrition information. Timely information brought progressive weight gain that was recorded among the controlled group while staggering weight gain was noticed within the uncontrolled group. Librarians as information providers must team up with health care providers and community to provide adequate and timely nutritional information.

Top

Keywords

Health information, Health literacy, Health education, Infant malnutrition, Academic Libraries, Weight gain.

Top