Evaluation and implementation of intervention strategy for health information deficiency among inhabitants in underserved communities in Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Health information remains a significant factor in informed health decision making and healthy behaviour. However, this information type seems to be inadequately available among the underserved population, resulting in Health Information Deficiency (HID). To evaluate the level of HID among an underserved population and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention executed to address the identified deficiency across five health categories (family health, disease management & healthy living, drug usage & self-help, alternative medicine & health myths, and access to health information & providers). The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design for a population of 75 inhabitants in the underserved communities in Uburu, Ohaozara L.G.A, Ebonyi State. A questionnaire (HID Scale) was used to elicit data for both pre and post intervention. The intervention was a structured training program across the five health categories. Descriptive and comparative analysis were used as the methods of data analysis. The study found a high level of HID as indicated by a pre-intervention mean score of 2.75. This suggests that the underserved inhabitants lack adequate health information across the five health categories. After the intervention (training program), the HID mean score reduced to 1.91, depicting the intervention's effectiveness across each category. Also, the study found a statistically significant mean difference in the HID level between pre- and post- intervention, indicating that training program is an effective intervention for addressing HID. Training intervention is an effective strategy to lower the HID of underserved population towards informed health decision-making and better health outcomes.