Abstract
Information behavior is a comprehensive term for the interaction’s humans have with information, comprising complex practices rooted within the dynamics of an individual’s everyday personal, social, and cultural contexts. Information science research has noted associations between certain information seeking behaviors and disadvantaged populations, indicating that individuals facing vulnerability may systematically have less ability to access, use, and act on information. Access to information resources, services, and technologies is essential for all people. The vulnerable may experience barriers in their search for and interaction with information. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of a vulnerable demographic. Qualitative interviews with eight women who are homeless and pregnant provided insight into their lived experiences associated with their process of seeking information for locating health and safety information. Study findings identified the motivators for their information seeking behaviors, the process of their information seeking behaviors, and influencers on the women’s ability to work through the process of information seeking behaviors. In relation to the research and findings of this study, a professional training course acts as a solution to raise awareness of the demographics information seeking process and to the identified influencers and motivators for their information seeking behaviors. This study provides practical implications for the broader network of individuals and organizations serving women who are homeless and pregnant, extending the understanding of organizational leaders seeking to serve women who are homeless and pregnant.
Keywords: information behavior, information seeking, women who are homeless and pregnant