African HealthlineAfrican Healthline

Academic Information Service

What you need to startWhat you need to start

On campus: – Library registration (at library counter)– Network registration (at library counter)– Ask for training sessions if you still feel

uncomfortable searching African Healthline

Off campus:– Library registration

BackgroundBackground

The premier collection of bibliographic databases on African health issues

Unique collection of sources including many from Africa and covering all aspects of African health issues.

Covering years since 1966Quarterly updatesMore than 700 000 records

Down to search basicsDown to search basics

Boolean operatorsTruncation symbolsSearching words next to each other

BOOLEAN LOGICBOOLEAN LOGICAND / OR / NOTAND / OR / NOT

OR

AIDS Education Programmes

BOOLEAN LOGICBOOLEAN LOGIC

AND

AIDS Education

ProgrammesAND

BOOLEAN LOGICBOOLEAN LOGIC

NOT

AIDS

NotEducation

Programmes

Truncation symbolsTruncation symbols

Use the * after the ROOT of the word to pick up different forms of the word

Eg:Program* To include:

• Programming• Programmer• Programs

Searching words next to each otherSearching words next to each other

Adjacent (adj)– Eg: AIDS adj education adj programs

Select databaseSelect database

Display search levelDisplay search level

Click on “Change Search Display Level”

Change search and display levelChange search and display level Select “split screen” and “advanced search mode”

Searching words in titleSearching words in title Example demo search: (AIDS or Acquired adj Immunodeficiency adj

Syndrome) and (Education* adj Program*) Click on “search”

Type in search terms using

Boolean logic and truncation

Search resultsSearch results

Use blue bar to adjust frame size up and down to view results

Select output for e-mail, save or printSelect output for e-mail, save or print

Mark records individually or click button before e-

mail or printing

Use dropdown menu to select

output

Display format for browsing Display format for browsing referencesreferences

Use dropdown menu to

select format

Formulate and submit a Formulate and submit a search strategysearch strategy

– Keyword search/phrases field scans the most commonly queried fields

– To browse index of keywords/phrases search field, click on “index” located in the command menu.

– Insert index entries or type them directly into the search field

Search an indexSearch an index

Type in search term and click on

“index”

View indexView index

Mark relevant terms and click on

search

View resultsView results Will appear instantaneously in the results screen

below

Adjust blue bar to view results below

Select display/output formatSelect display/output format

Use dropdown menu to select

and display

Mark your preferences for display and Mark your preferences for display and output formatoutput format

Mark records before printing or email or click on mark all at

bottom of page

FEEL WELCOME TO ASK FEEL WELCOME TO ASK FOR HELPFOR HELP

Created by Myleen Oosthuizen and Anneline vd GrypFebruary 2004