Abstract
In developed countries, adolescents go online to find information about health; however, little is known about the online practices of youth from developing countries. This study's purpose was to explore and provide current information, drawn from adolescents living in Ghana's capital city of Accra, on the use of the Internet as a health information source. Using a representative sample of in-school adolescents and a convenience sample of out-of-school adolescents, 778 15- to 18-year-olds completed a detailed media and health information survey. Two-thirds (66%) of the in-school youth and approximately half (54%) of the out-of-school youth had previously gone online. Of all these Internet users, 53% had sought online health information, and this percentage did not differ significantly by gender, age, ethnicity, or even school status. Youth reported great interest, high levels of efficacy, and positive perceptions of online health information. Although more research should be conducted, this study offers exciting data on the potential to deliver, via the Internet, health information to youth in developing countries.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 450-458 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Developmental Psychology |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2006 |
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Keywords
- Adolescents
- Computers
- Ghana
- Health
- Internet
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
Cite this
Online access by adolescents in accra : Ghanaian teens' use of the Internet for health information. / Borzekowski, Dina L G; Fobil, Julius N.; Asante, Kofi O.
In: Developmental Psychology, Vol. 42, No. 3, 05.2006, p. 450-458.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Online access by adolescents in accra
T2 - Ghanaian teens' use of the Internet for health information
AU - Borzekowski, Dina L G
AU - Fobil, Julius N.
AU - Asante, Kofi O.
PY - 2006/5
Y1 - 2006/5
N2 - In developed countries, adolescents go online to find information about health; however, little is known about the online practices of youth from developing countries. This study's purpose was to explore and provide current information, drawn from adolescents living in Ghana's capital city of Accra, on the use of the Internet as a health information source. Using a representative sample of in-school adolescents and a convenience sample of out-of-school adolescents, 778 15- to 18-year-olds completed a detailed media and health information survey. Two-thirds (66%) of the in-school youth and approximately half (54%) of the out-of-school youth had previously gone online. Of all these Internet users, 53% had sought online health information, and this percentage did not differ significantly by gender, age, ethnicity, or even school status. Youth reported great interest, high levels of efficacy, and positive perceptions of online health information. Although more research should be conducted, this study offers exciting data on the potential to deliver, via the Internet, health information to youth in developing countries.
AB - In developed countries, adolescents go online to find information about health; however, little is known about the online practices of youth from developing countries. This study's purpose was to explore and provide current information, drawn from adolescents living in Ghana's capital city of Accra, on the use of the Internet as a health information source. Using a representative sample of in-school adolescents and a convenience sample of out-of-school adolescents, 778 15- to 18-year-olds completed a detailed media and health information survey. Two-thirds (66%) of the in-school youth and approximately half (54%) of the out-of-school youth had previously gone online. Of all these Internet users, 53% had sought online health information, and this percentage did not differ significantly by gender, age, ethnicity, or even school status. Youth reported great interest, high levels of efficacy, and positive perceptions of online health information. Although more research should be conducted, this study offers exciting data on the potential to deliver, via the Internet, health information to youth in developing countries.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Computers
KW - Ghana
KW - Health
KW - Internet
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746806312&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746806312&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/0012-1649.42.3.450
DO - 10.1037/0012-1649.42.3.450
M3 - Article
VL - 42
SP - 450
EP - 458
JO - Developmental Psychology
JF - Developmental Psychology
SN - 0012-1649
IS - 3
ER -