| This study investigated the family information needs and information seeking behavior of rural women living in Makwate, Modipane and Paje in Botswana. Women are a majority in rural areas. A total of sixty married women and single mothers who were heads of households form the population of this study. The objectives of the study were to document the information needs of the respondents, the channels and sources of information the respondents consulted, to investigate their usage of women's groups as sources of information and capture the experiences of the women as they sought for information. Ethnographic techniques such as face-to-face interviews, note taking and focus groups were the instruments for the study. The women were asked to relate situations in which they needed information for themselves or their family members.; The women needed information concerning health of the family, basic needs such as food and clothing, finances, acquisition of agricultural implements and the improvement of agricultural produce. Women also needed information relating to family violence, job opportunities, child maintenance and further training. The sources of information were interpersonal sources, comprised of formal and informal sources. The informal sources of information were members of the social network, traditional and spiritual doctors and the village headman. The formal sources were mainly government officials and very limited printed matter. The common channels of information hinged on oral tradition. The radio was the only medium providing information cutting across most of the information needs. The use of women's groups was for the most part limited to village-based group rather than national groups. The village-based groups were used because the women were members or personally knew the members of the women's groups. The respondents trusted the village-based groups while the national women's groups were viewed as outsiders. The respondents did not use the national women women's organizations due to the lack of representation at grass root level and ignorance of what they can offer. When seeking information, women experienced satisfaction, and a sense of achievement when the information needs were met. They also experienced rejection, reluctance, discouragement and delays in information delivery. |
