Health Information Dissemination on Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance by Librarians and Its Use Among Post-Natal Mothers in Odugbo, Benue State, Nigeria

The purpose of this paper was to investigate how librarians in the Federal College of Education Library, Odugbo, Benue State, have disseminated health information on anti-malarial drug resistance, and how post-natal mothers have utilised that information. The study adopted a survey research design. The study had a sample size of 192, comprising 187 post-natal mothers and five librarians. Due to the manageable population size, a total enumeration (census) method was employed. Separate questionnaires and an observation checklist were used as data collection instruments. A total of 187 copies of the questionnaire were administered to post-natal mothers, and 5 to librarians. Out of these, 184 (99.4%) and all 5 (100%) were correctly completed and returned, respectively. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The study findings indicated that the effects of librarians’ information dissemination on anti-malarial drug resistance among post-natal mothers are moderate. It further revealed that, according to the post-natal mothers, the actual use of the disseminated information had a relatively lower impact on addressing anti-malarial drug resistance. The perceptions of a subset of mothers (12 respondents) indicated that access to information helped them understand child delivery, gain general health and medical knowledge, recognise the consequences of drug misuse, and adhere strictly to malaria prescriptions and medications. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that the management of the Federal College of Education should collaborate with healthcare providers to offer timely and relevant information on the prevention and treatment of malaria.