Health information literacy of healthcare workers in Khliehriat community health center (CHC) of East Jaintia hills district in Meghalaya

The present study was carried out to unravel the health information concerning to the literacy skills of healthcare workers in Khliehriat Community Health Centre (CHC) of East Jaintia Hills District in the state of Meghalaya. The main objective is to ascertain the ability of the healthcare workers to search and locate the requisite information, to explore the source of information mostly used by them, to determine the tools utilized for accessing the required information and to find out the complications faced by the healthcare workers in accessing the most needed information. The primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data, which provides first-hand evidence was collected from the respondents using questionnaire sheets as a tool. 50% (107) of the sample was selected from 213 of the total population of the healthcare workers presently working in Khliehriat CHC. Out of the 107 questionnaires distributed only 91 (85%) of the filled-in questionnaires were returned back and used for the study. The results of the study revealed that most of the respondents faced problems in accessing the much-required information since there is no medical library in Khliehriat CHC. The respondents considered the internet as the most significant and widespread information source, especially for initial information. Healthcare workers, who are competent, are able to discover and use information resources from both personal library and internet for their profession.