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Essay / Impact of Health Literacy on Health - 1184
Health literacy is defined as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services necessary to make appropriate health decisions" (Michael K. Paasche-Orlow, 2010), the word Health Literacy first appeared in 1974 in an article calling for "educational standards for all levels of elementary schools in the United States” (Carolyn Speros, 2004). Some recent work suggests that there is a relationship between literacy, poor health and premature deaths (Christina Zarcadoolas et al, 2005). Health Literacy Awareness The concept of health literacy originated in the early years and was recognized as a standalone area of research in the 1990s (Andrew Nice and Shyama Kuruvilla, 2008). Awareness about health and literacy is increasing frequently and several governments are implementing various national programs to raise literacy levels and health standards. The government and some organizations implement health awareness programs in the community and promote them through social media marketing using printed materials. However, people who can read brochures and printed texts can only know the information they contain. Accessibility to health information is therefore a key factor for each individual in a community, which can be achieved through health literacy (Heather and Lisa Langille, 2006). Many countries have low literacy rates. Heather and Lisa Langille (2006) stated that literacy is the essential foundation of health literacy and that the individual's life reflects the relationship with health and literacy. The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health has recognized that literacy plays a key role in addressing health inequalities in developed and underdeveloped countries...... middle of article. .....h literacy: public health and clinical approaches to health literacy”, Health Promotion International, 23 (2), pp. 152-159.4. Heather, E. and Lisa, L. (2006) “Building Knowledge in Literacy and Health”, Canadian Journal of Public Health, 97, p. art.31.5. Nutbeam, D. (2008) “The evolving concept of health literacy”, Social Sciences and Medicine, 67 (12), pp. 2072-20786. Speros, C. (2004) “Health literacy: conceptual analysis”, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 50 (6), pp. 633–640.7. Egbert, N. and Nanna, K.M. (2009) “Health literacy: challenges and strategies”, Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14 (3).8. Michael K. Paasche-Orlow et al. (2005) “The prevalence of limited health literacy”, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20(2), pp. 175-184.9. Tanya, L. and Al-Assaf (2006) “Health literacy: impact on older adults”, American Academy of Medical Administrators.