Critical Analysis of Health Literacy and its Impact on Health Outcomes

Abstract

Objectives: Health literacy has to do with the individual’s capacity to understand, access and apply information available to health so as to make better choices and decisions. In recent times, the increased numbers of health illiterate across the globe with many having difficulties in grasping the notion of disease prevention and several struggling with health promotion. Design and settings: In many parts of the developing countries, there is serious rise in lifestyle linked health problems with high rate of infectious diseases. Also, about 70-80% of death is associated with lifestyle related diseases in developed countries. Thus, there is need to improve health literacy for disease prevention across the globe. Methodology: Extensive literature search was conducted to find published articles on the internet that were involved in health literacy and outcomes. An organized search of MEDLINE/PubMed, ProQuest, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar and Cochrane were conducted based on suitable synonyms and keywords. One researcher independently conducted the literature search and review. Results: No doubt, that health literacy offers many benefits such as improving health outcomes, increases efficiency of health care system, make better decision, take preventive measures, reduced cost, reduce poverty level, eliminates discrimination, racism, and promotes justice and socioeconomic values.