Empowering women with information: An investigation of rural desert women’s information behaviour in Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigated the information behaviour of rural desert women residing in Hafizwala village from the Bahawalnagar district, Pakistan. Data were collected from adult females using an interview questionnaire. Face to face interviews with each female were conducted by visiting their houses. The rural desert women required information mainly on health (self and family), child education, religion, pregnancy related issues, cattle and poultry care, water purification. They perceived political, agricultural, nutritional, housekeeping, and current affaires related information as important. These respondents relied heavily on informal information sources such as family members, close relatives, and friends in information acquisition. Inaccessibility, illiteracy, lack of awareness, poor economic conditions, cultural restrictions, and language or communication barriers were the primary barriers in acquiring everyday information. These results are useful in planning need-based information delivery system for desert communities in Pakistan as well as other developing countries in Africa and Asia.