ICML 9

9º Congreso Mundial de Información en Salud y Bibliotecas

Salvador, Bahia - Brasil, 20 a 23 de septiembre de 2005

BVS4

4a. Reunión de Coordinación Regional de la BVS

19 y 20 de septiembre de 2005

Community-based health literacy model for libraries in India

Participantes:
  • Principal Library and Information Officer, National Neurosciences Information Center, NIMHANS- Deemed University, Bangalore  - India
Documentos:

It is known that “information is solution and information is money” if it is at right time, to right people in right media-mix and manpower-mix   considering varied approach, barriers and understanding level of the users. Viewing this importance, the study on community-based model for health literacy   was undertaken considering various factors such as sensitivity, awareness, accessibility and use of health information resources including sources of clarification of doubts about health information.  At the dissemination level, use of various media of information and grass root level health workers was also studied.     Majority of the literature viewed health literacy   in context of adult literacy, actual literacy of the community, basic knowledge of community about health, social and political will, technology literacy and Internet. In context of institutionalization of health literacy, many studies suggested that    health literacy should part of    IEC (Information Education Commun ication) program, school health program or adult literacy program under health care delivery system.

The present study was conducted at three Primary health Centers located 40 Kilometers away from the metropolitan city, Bangalore. The study sample includes 70 exit patients (before and after visiting doctor); 46 families with Internet facility; 32 families subscribed to newspapers, magazines and TV; 10 families- frequent users of libraries; and 10 families relaying on their collection. The study found that team including epidemiologist, librarian and grass root level health workers are the apt combination for health literacy. Further it was found that health literacy    integrated to PHC activity at grass root level – information matching and consolidation by the librarians using community profile (extracted from health records); executed   through health workers and supervised by the epidemiologist helps to achieve the better end result.  Sensitizing the community to use the information is mo st important than the actual health literacy. Many of the respondents feel that half knowledge and apathy due to the awareness about health is more danger than not knowing about the health. Majority of the people with life style disorders   are addicted to various circumstance/ substances, not interested in health literacy.