Abstract
This research assessed criminalized women's health literacy skills. Health literacy is conceptualized as one's ability to access, understand, appraise, communicate, and act upon health information. Estimates of health literacy skill for criminalized women in Canada do not exist. The research question that guided this study was: what are the assessed health literacy skills of criminalized women? A cross-sectional survey design assessed participant demographics, health information preferences, and health literacy skills. The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) was administered to incarcerated women in Ontario, Canada. Descriptive statistics of demographic data and assessed health literacy skills were reported. Eighty-five women with a mean age of 29 years participated. The majority (N= 50, 65%) reported an income less than $14,999 (CAN) and 81% (N=68) reported their education level as a high school diploma or less. A range of health literacy skill (inadequate (51%), marginal (15%), adequate (34%)) were documented with a mean NVS score of 2.79± 1.75/6. The results demonstrated participants' had limited health literacy skills, which have far reaching implications for the development of health resources that strive to accommodate diverse health literacy skill and lived complexity. The results support population level reports of limited health literacy skill among marginalized Canadians.
Highlights
The life context of criminalized women exemplifies existing health inequities, outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as important determinants of health [1]
This study investigated the health literacy skills of women incarcerated within a provincial detention facility in Canada
In light of this, investigating criminalized women’s health literacy skills provides an initial baseline measurement. This assessment serves as a point of reference for the development of health literacy skills, and lends critical insights to be considered for future health resource creation and improvements within and among this disenfranchised population of women
Summary
The life context of criminalized women exemplifies existing health inequities, outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as important determinants of health [1]. A reported 60% of Canadians have limited health literacy skills [12]. People with limited health literacy skills tend to have low socioeconomic backgrounds, have increased health problems, live in poverty, have fewer years of education, experience greater chronic disease, and use less disease prevention services [13,14,15]. Individuals with adequate health literacy skills have reported better self-care practices, improved disease state knowledge, greater coping skills and engage in healthier lifestyle practices [17,18,19]. Approximately 70% of North American adults search for health information online [21,22] which highlights the need for proficiency in computer and Internet use, and the capacity to appraise complex, and often contradictory online information [20,23]
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