Media and Health Information Seeking Behavior Dynamics Among the Elderly in Kenya: a Study of Kibra

Abstract

This study explored how the elderly slum dwellers, particularly in Kibra Sub County, Nairobi, seek health information through media. The objectives were to examine health information-seeking patterns, investigate related issues, analyze preferred media channels, and identify the types of health information sought by low-income elderly individuals. Guided by the Modified Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (MCMIS) by Basnyat et al., the study targeted elderly residents of Kibra Sub County. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). The data was analyzed thematically and presented narratively. The findings revealed that factors such as age, gender, income, education, marital status, location, and ethnicity significantly influence how elderly slum dwellers use media for health information. Social support, anxiety, attitudes, self-efficacy, health literacy, health status, and media-related factors also play crucial roles in their information-seeking behavior. Elderly slum dwellers primarily relied on interpersonal communication, followed by radio and television, while online media was the least preferred due to a lack of digital literacy. The study identified that health information on arthritis, diabetes, nutrition, blood pressure, medication management, vaccinations, hand washing, mental health, sleep health, and cancer was most sought after by the elderly. The study recommends that government health agencies, local authorities, and Non-Governmental Organizations should fund community-led initiatives such as health ambassador programs. Additionally, media practitioners should focus on creating culturally sensitive public health messages for radio and television to improve accessibility for elderly slum dwellers.