Health-information-seeking behaviours of Gwanda Rural Communities during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the health information-seeking behaviour of the Gwanda rural people in the wake of the pandemic. Wilson's (1981) information-seeking behaviour model guided the study's objectives, which included identifying health information needs, information sources, information access barriers, and information uses. The study utilised a qualitative research approach. A case study research strategy was used to understand the health information- seeking behaviours of Gwanda rural dwellers in a time of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Using non-probability sampling techniques, a suitable sample was drawn from Gwanda rural communities, Edward Ndlovu Memorial Library community workers (ENML), and Village Health Workers (VHWs). The respondents' data was gathered through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of rural Gwanda exhibited unique information-seeking behaviours, influenced by their diverse information needs. To fulfil these needs, the Gwanda communities preferred information sources that relied on word-of-mouth, such as village health workers, broadcast media (radio), and family/friends. The challenges in accessing information were attributed to the lack of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure and the digital divide, as COVID-19 information was primarily available online. Despite these access barriers, the Gwanda communities utilised the COVID-19 information they had obtained in various ways, including preventing illness, deciding how to seek care, and recognising disease symptoms. The study brought attention to Zimbabwe’s rural dweller's health- information-seeking behaviours as they were often overlooked during the COVID-19 pandemic.