Health Libraries and Information Services in Tanzania: A Strategic Assessment

Abstract

Objective To identify the current status and local impact of health sciences libraries and the perception of these libraries by their users, as a pre-requisite to the development of a competence-based curriculum for health information science training in Tanzania. Methodology A needs assessment was carried out using a convenience sample of local respondents, including librarians, trainers, academicians, students, health care providers and patients and families, drawn from national, referral, regional, district hospitals, health training institutions, and Universities from both government and non-government entities in Tanzania. A focus group approach was used to gather data from respondents. Results Results from this assessment revealed that health science libraries in Tanzania are faced with the challenges of insufficient infrastructure, old technology, limited facilities and furniture, inadequate and incompetent library staff, lack of health sciences librarians, outdated and insufficient resources, as well as low knowledge and use of information technologies by library clients. Most respondents would prefer to have both physical and electronic libraries, as well as librarians with specialized health information science skills, to cope with changing nature of the medical field. Conclusion The findings obtained from this assessment are strong enough to guide the development of a curriculum and training strategy and an operational plan and training packages for health information professionals. The development of a training curriculum for health information science professionals will mean better health information service delivery for Tanzania.

An assessment of health information literacy among women in rural Lake Zone, Tanzania

“…Only a few studies have specifically assessed the health information literacy skills of women of childbearing age in rural Tanzania (see Kassim and Ndumbaro, 2020; Mbekenga et al, 2021). Other available studies on health information literacy in Tanzania have focused on medical librarians (Haruna et al, 2017) and health-care providers and agricultural officers (Wema, 2013). Other past studies have almost exclusively focused on the accessibility of health information (Benard and Chipungahelo, 2017; Mwangakala, 2016) and sources of health information for women in rural settings (Hanson et al, 2017; Kassim and Katunzi-Mollel, 2017).…”

Tanzanian health libraries in the 21st century: initiatives and challenges

“…This has been supported by the Ministry of Health Community, Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGCE). The Ministry, in collaboration with the United States, the National Library of Medicine and Pittsburgh University, has enabled the development and implementation of the HIS curriculum to diploma level (Haruna, Mtoroki, Gerendasy, & Detlefsen, ). A government body, the National Accreditation Council for Technical Education, plays a major role in providing training support.…”

Training needs of medical librarians in Nigeria: A survey

“…There is an overwhelming availability of health information, so also is the absence of time and expertise on the part of physicians, other health professionals and even patients to access and apply health information in their daily decision‐making. Medical libraries have created an atmosphere for medical/health librarians to fully participate in storage, retrieval, appraisal, management, summarizing, and the delivery of timely and reliable health information in health establishments (Haruna et al, 2016). Hence, the medical/health librarian is faced with the uphill tasks of providing information to clientele who need fast and reliable information and its resources.…”