Health literacy and child health promotion: implications for research, clinical care, and public policy.
The nation's leading sources of morbidity and health disparities (eg, preterm birth, obesity, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mental health disorders, and cancer) require an evidence-based approach to the delivery of effective preventive care across the life course (eg, prenatal care, primary preventive care, immunizations, physical activity, nutrition, smoking cessation, and early diagnostic screening). Health literacy may be a critical and modifiable factor for improving preventive care and reducing health disparities. Recent studies among adults have established an independent association between lower health literacy and poorer understanding of preventive care information and poor access to preventive care services. Children of parents with higher literacy skills are more likely to have better outcomes in child health promotion and disease prevention. Adult studies in disease prevention have suggested that addressing health literacy would be an efficacious strategy for reducing health disparities. Future initiatives to reduce child health inequities should include health-promotion strategies that meet the health literacy needs of children, adolescents, and their caregivers.
Sanders
Lee M
LM
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity, Department of Pediatrics, 1601 NW 12th Ave, Suite 4063, Miami, FL 33136, USA. leesanders@miami.edu
Shaw
Judith S
JS
Guez
Ghislaine
G
Baur
Cynthia
C
Rudd
Rima
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011247:Pregnancy; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000193:education; D011640:Public Policy; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control