Bridging the Gap: Meeting the Health Information Needs of Female New Immigrants

Abstract

This study investigated the health information seeking behaviors of female new immigrants in Taiwan through interviews. The findings revealed the various challenges faced by this population, including gender, language, sociocultural, health literacy, and digital barriers. Additionally, the study identified the health information needs of female new immigrants and the channels they use to seek information, as well as their selection considerations and the solutions they choose to adopt.

Furthermore, the study explored how female new immigrants verify the accuracy of health information and their strategies for using and sharing such information. Based on the results, this study provides practical recommendations for various stakeholders, including female new immigrants, their spouses, government agencies (e.g., health agencies, public libraries, etc.), and medical institutions, to address the barriers and promote effective health communication for this vulnerable population. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of health information seeking behaviors among female new immigrants and highlights the importance of improving their access to health information.