Health Information Services and Public Healthcare Awareness: A Behavioral Study of Rural Inhabitants of the Balasore District of Odisha

:The purpose of the study is to explore the healthcare awareness of the rural inhabitants of the Balasore district. It also assesses the healthcare information needs, satisfaction about healthcare services and programs, channels through which health information is disseminated, and challenges they have faced concerning health care services in the absence of proper health information services. Methodology/Approach:A survey was conducted in the rural area of the district through a structured questionnaire to study the behavior of the rural inhabitants(N = 240)concerning healthcare services. The dare is analyzed by applying inferential statisticsChiSquare (χ2 ) test with the help of ‘Sigma-Plot’software. Results:The authors found thattherural people belong to the higher income group and literates are more conscious than the lower income group and illiterates regarding health information’s impact on a healthy life. Conclusion:There are inadequate facilities in the district concerning disseminating health information services, and most rural people are not conscious of it. The government should avail the facilities of health information services in rural areas of the district and create awareness among the rural inhabitants to use the services for the sustainability of healthy life