Exploring Media Use for Health Information Seeking among Elderly Slum Dwellers in Kenya
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigates how elderly residents of Kibera, one of Africa's largest informal settlements, use media to access health information and enhance health communication in Kenya. Employing a phenomenological research design and purposive sampling, data were collected from 30 elderly participants, a doctor, dietician, pharmacist, social worker, health ministry official, and communications expert through interviews and focus group discussions. Findings reveal that older adults engage with various media channels, including radio, television, phone calls, WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook, and websites to listen to health programmes, consult experts, and manage chronic conditions. Thematic analysis shows that media use promotes beneficial health behaviours such as physical activity, healthy eating, and stress management. The study also highlights the role of media in empowering elderly slum dwellers with accessible health information and recommends a multi-dimensional communication strategy to serve this vulnerable population better.
Article Details
References
Adu-Gyamfi, S., & Asante, E.A. (2022). Sources of Information About COVID-19 Among Older Adults in Ghana, 2019-2021. Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, 16(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.5590/jsbhs.2022.16.1.01
Afful, G. W., Lulin, Z., Abakah, S., & Amoah, E. P. (2022). Impact of Health Education on Insurance on the Geriatric; A Content Analysis of Radio Health Programs “Mpon Te Sen” (How is Your Health). Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(10), 36–55. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.910.13233
Agyemang-Duah, W., Arthur-Holmes, F., Peprah, C. et al. (2020). Dynamics of health information-seeking behaviour among older adults with very low incomes in Ghana: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 20, 928. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08982-1
Ancker, J. S., Witteman, H. O., Hafeez, B., Provencher, T., Van De Graaf, M., & Wei, E. (2015). “You get reminded you’re a sick person”: Personal data tracking and patients with multiple chronic conditions. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4209
Arbitron. (2008). Radio today: How America listens to radio. Retrieved from http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/radiotoday08.pdf
Banbury, A., Parkinson, L., Nancarrow, S., Dart, J., Gray, L., & Buckley, J. (2014). Multi-site videoconferencing for home-based education of older people with chronic conditions: the Telehealth Literacy Project. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 20(7), 353–359. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X14552369
Berry, N., Lobban, F., Belousov, M., Emsley, R., Nenadic, G., & Bucci, S. (2017). #WhyWeTweetMH: Understanding Why People Use Twitter to Discuss Mental Health Problems Corresponding Author. 19(4). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6173
Bertolazzi, A., Quaglia, V., & Bongelli, R. (2024). Barriers and facilitators to health technology adoption by older adults with chronic diseases: an integrative systematic review. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18036-5
Brashers, D. E., Goldsmith, D. J., & Hsieh, E. (2002). Information seeking and avoiding in health contexts. Human Communication Research, 28, 258-271.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Chan, T. J., Chong, P. X., Chin Foo, S., Tian, Y., & Arswendi, R. (2024). To Vaccinate or Not? Perceived Benefits and Social Media Exposure as Predictors of COVID-19 Booster Jab Vaccination Practices with Self-Efficacy as Moderator. Journal of Communication, Language and Culture, 4(2), 148–163. https://doi.org/10.33093/jclc.2024.4.2.9
Chang, S. J. U., & Im, E.O. (2014). A path analysis of Internet health information seeking behaviors among older adults. Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.), 35(2), 137–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.11.005
Chaudhuri, S. et al. (2013). Examining health information-seeking behaviors of older adults. CIN- Computers Informatics Nursing, 31(11), 547-553. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NCN.0000432131.92020.42
Chen, K., Davoodi, N. M., Strauss, D. H., Li, M., Jiménez, F. N., Guthrie, K. M., & Goldberg, E. M. (2022). Strategies to Ensure Continuity of Care Using Telemedicine with Older Adults during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study of Physicians in Primary Care and Geriatrics. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(11), 2282–2295. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221109728
Chepngeno, G., & Ezeh, A.C. (2007). Between a rock and a hard place: perception of older people living in Nairobi city on return-migration to rural areas. Glob Ageing, 4(3), 67–78.
Cheung, Y. T. D., Chan, C. H. H., Ho, K. S., Fok, W. Y. P., Conway, M., Wong, C. K.H., Li, W. H. C., Wang, M. P., & Lam, T. H. (2020). Effectiveness of WhatsApp online group discussion for smoking relapse prevention: protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Addiction, 115(9), 1777–1785. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15027
Choi, W. (2019). Older adults’ health information behavior in everyday life settings. Library and Information Science Research, 41(4), 100983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2019.100983
Clayman, M. L., Manganello, J. A., Viswanath, K., Hesse, B. W., & Arora, N. K. (2010). Providing health messages to Hispanics/Latinos: understanding the importance of language, trust in health information sources, and media use. Journal of Health Communication, 15(Suppl3), 252-263.
Cohen, B., & Menken, J. E. (2006). Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: recommendations for furthering research. Washington DC: National Academy of Sciences.
Cutilli, C. C., Simko, L. C., Colbert, A. M., & Bennett, I. M. (2018). Health Literacy, Health Disparities, and Sources of Health Information in U.S. Older Adults. Orthopaedic Nursing, 37(1), 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1097/NOR.0000000000000418
Duah, A. W., Holmes, A. F., Peprah, C., Adei, D., & Peprah, P. (2020). Dynamics of health information-seeking behaviour among older adults with very low incomes in Ghana: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 20, 928. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08982-1
Gabarron, E., Makhlysheva, A., & Marco, L. (2015). Type 1 Diabetes in Twitter: Who All Listen To? 26(4), 9019. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-564-7-972
Hadi Mousavi, M. D. N. (2020). A new decade for social changes. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 6(December), 101–105.
Hemsley, B., Dann, S., Palmer. S., Allan, M., & Balandin, S. (2015). “We definitely need an audience”: experiences of Twitter, Twitter networks and tweet content in adults with severe communication disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication networks and tweet content in adults with severe communication disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). 8288. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2015.1045990
Herkert, C., Graat-Verboom, L., Gilsing-Fernhout, J., Schols, M., & Clemens Kemps, H. M. (2021). Home-based exercise program for patients with combined advanced chronic cardiac and pulmonary diseases: Exploratory study. JMIR Formative Research, 5(11). https://doi.org/10.2196/28634
Himelboim, I., & Han, J.Y. (2014). Cancer Talk on Twitter: Community Structure and Information Sources in Breast and Prostate Cancer Social Networks. 0730. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2013.811321
Hoffman, B. L., Shensa, A., Wessel, C., Hoffman, R., & Primack, B. A. (2017). Exposure to fictional medical television and health: A systematic review. Health Education Research, 32(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyx034
Hoogerbrugge, M. M., & Burger, M.J. (2018). Neighborhood-Based social capital and life satisfaction: the case of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Urban Geography, 39(10), 1484–1509. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2018.1474609
Ijiekhuamhen, O. P., Edewor, N., Emeka-Ukwu, U., & Egreajena, D. E. (2016). Elderly people and their information needs. Library Philosophy and Practice, 2016(1).
Islam, F. M.A., Lambert, E. A., Islam, S. M. S., Hosen, M.A., Thompson, B. R., & Lambert, G. W. (2021). Understanding the sociodemographic factors associated with intention to receive SMS messages for health information in a rural area of Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12418-9
Jiang, Y., Sun, P., Chen, Z., Guo, J., Wang, S., Liu, F., & Li, J. (2022). Patients’ and healthcare providers’ perceptions and experiences of telehealth use and online health information use in chronic disease management for older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02702-z
Jo, H. S., & Hwang, Y. S. (2021). Psychological factors that affect the acceptance and need for ICT services for older adults with chronic diseases. Gerontechnology, 20(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4017/GT.2021.20.411.01
Khalil, G. E., & Rintamaki, L.S. (2014). A televised entertainment-education drama to promote positive discussion about organ donation. Health Educ Res, 29, 284-96.
Kim, K., Lee, M., & Macias, W. (2014). An alcohol message beneath the surface of ER: How implicit memory influences viewers health attitudes and intentions using entertainment-education. Journal of Health Communication, 19(8), 876–892. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2013.837556
Kiringa, E. M. (2019). Media and health information seeking among the elderly: A study of diabetes patients in Makueni County, M.A thesis dissertation School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Nairobi.
KNBS. (2010). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The National Treasury and Planning.
Krause, A. E., & Fletcher, H. (2023). The purpose of radio and how it supports older adults' well-being. Frontiers in Computer Science, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2023.1111806
Kreps, G. L., & Thornton, B. C. (1992). Health Communication theory & Practice. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.
Kyobutungi, C., Egondi, T., & Ezeh, A. (2010). The health and well-being of older people in Nairobi’s slums. Glob Health Action, 3:2138; Suppl 2(INDEPTH WHOSAGE Supplement): 45–53. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v3i0.2138
Kyobutungi, C., Kasiira Ziraba, A., Ezeh, A., & Yé, Y. (2008). The burden of disease profile of residents of Nairobi’s slums: results from a demographic surveillance system. Popul Health Metr, 6(1): 8.
Lambert, S. D., & Loiselle, C. G. (2007). Health information-seeking behavior. Qualitative Health Research, 17(8), 1006–1019. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307305199
Lee, H., Lee, Y. A., Park, S. A., Willis, E., & Cameron, G. T. (2013). What Are Americans Seeing? Examining the Message Frames of Local Television Health News Stories. Health Communication, 28(8), 846–852. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2012.743842
Lewis, N., Gray, S. W., Freres, D.R., Hornik, R.C. (2009). Examining cross-source engagement with cancer-related information and its impact on doctor-patient relations. Health Comm, 24, 723-34.
Lundputh, S., Kuhirunyaratn, P., & Jindawong, B. (2022). Health Information Seeking for Elderly Care Through Online Media Among Family Caregivers in a Rural Community, Thailand. 08.
Luth, W., Jardine, C., & Bubela, T. (2013). When Pictures Waste a Thousand Words: Analysis of the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic on Television News. PLoS ONE, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064070
Middlemass, J. B., Vos, J., & Niroshan Siriwardena, A. (2017). Perceptions on use of home telemonitoring in patients with long term conditions - Concordance with the Health Information Technology Acceptance Model: A qualitative collective case study. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 17(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-017-0486-5
Millenson, M. L., & Sarasohn-kahn, J. (2015). 4 Old media to new in health: from information to interactivity.
Mogambi, H. (2024). Kiswahili Radio broadcasting in Kenya: Perspectives, Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Language and Communication (JLC), 11(2), 103-115. https://doi.org/10.47836/jlc.11.02.01