Health Literacy Among University of Zambia Students: Case Study of Library and Information Science Students

Abstract

Health literacy is of great concern to everyone as it enables individuals to lead healthy lives. Health literacy enhances one’s ability to make informed decisions related to what type of health care they should seek and receive, and how they can go about to effectively use information related to their health. Therefore, this study was designed to find out health literacy levels of students at the University of Zambia, particularly among students of library and information science. Areas of focus of the study were to find out the health seeking behaviors of library information science students, their ability to appraise health information and their ability to use this information. Data was collected from 100 randomly sampled or selected library and information students in their second, third and fourth year for 2017/2018 academic year. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect this data and gave an opportunity to the students to express their views on health literacy. The results showed that most of the library and information science students at the University of Zambia are health literate. This is evident from the data obtained in the field, which indicated that the students have the ability to evaluate, interpret, understand and use health information for various purposes in their social and health lives to make sound and confident health decisions. In addition, Students evaluated their health information before using it by seeking for professional advice, reading further on health information at hand, seeking for parental guidance and acquiring advice from friends. Further, the results showed that students evaluated health information in order to follow instructions, to know relevant health information, and to timely and accurately access health information. Finally, the study recommended that the central administration at the University of Zambia should collaborate with Library and information science faculty to work towards making University authorities to see the reason to integrate the course ‘Health literacy’ into the school curriculum.