Patterns of health information in later life: a study of health literacy among elderly persons

Background: Health literacy refers to an individual’s capacity to obtain, read, understand, and apply health-related information for making appropriate health decisions. The present study examined health literacy among the elderly persons by focusing on their patterns of accessing and using formal and informal sources of health information within the context of their socio-economic profile. Methods: This study was conduct in suburb of Meerut city, Uttar Pradesh, using purposive sampling. A total of 200 elderly respondents aged 60 years and above were interviewed using a pre-designed, structured schedule. Data were analysed through basic statistical technique including coding, grouping, classification, and tabulation. Results: Findings indicate that the majority of respondents belong to the 60-65 age group, were from upper-caste, Hindu religion, moderately educated, and self-employed with a monthly income of ₹20,000-30,000. Most of the participants reported reading newspapers and watching television weekly, while reading health magazines less frequently. They regularly consulted family members for health-related matters but showed limited engagement with traditional formal health channels such as local health centres, district health centres, community medical camps, and hospitals. Instead, respondents demonstrated a strong preference for modern informal sources of health information, especially social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp groups. Conclusions: This growing reliance on informal and often unregulated sources increases the likelihood of misinterpretation of health information, potentially aggravating health vulnerabilities. Consequently, low health literacy among the elderly may contribute to poorer health outcomes and increased burden on healthcare institutions, families, and society at large.