Profiling Egyptian Divorced Women’s Information Needs and Behaviour

Abstract

Everyone recognizes the value of information and the significance it represents in various aspects of life, particularly for marginalized or vulnerable groups in special circumstances, such as widowed and divorced women. The current study was conducted to fill a gap left by a lack of adequate research on the informational behavior, search patterns, and needs of Egyptian divorced women. Using a qualitative, exploratory approach guided by grounded theory, data was gathered in December 2024 through focus group interviews with 45 divorced women across different administrative regions in Egypt: North Egypt (Alexandria), Middle Egypt (Cairo), and Upper Egypt (Qena). The findings indicate that the average age of respondents ranged from 40 to 50 years, with a medium to high level of education (51.1% holding a BA degree), and an average monthly income between 1,000 and 2,500 EGP. While 71.1% of the participants successfully identified their information needs, their requirements varied considerably, focusing heavily on health care (73.3%), childrearing/education (53.3%), legal/custody rights, and securing suitable employment (48.9%). To satisfy these needs, the vast majority (84.4%) actively utilized various sources and channels, strongly preferring undocumented oral sources (family, relatives, friends, and peers) via face-to-face communication, mobile phones, or social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube), while public, school, and mosque libraries were underutilized. Major barriers to information access included financial and time constraints, lack of digital research skills, computer illiteracy, physical and emotional fatigue, and the persisting social stigma associated with divorce in conservative Egyptian society. This study provides critical insights for policymakers, advocates, and civil society organizations to design targeted information support systems and empowerment programs for divorced women in Egypt.