Low Health Literacy (LHL) Facts

Abstract

In order to access, comprehend, and use information to make decisions about their health, people must possess certain personal traits and social resources, which are referred to as health literacy. It can assist us in maintaining good health, preventing illness, and effectively managing existing illnesses. The degree to which a person can locate, comprehend, and make use of information and services to support health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others is known as personal health literacy. Low health literacy is linked to more hospitalizations, more use of emergency care, less use of preventative services, and a worsened ability to understand labels and health messages, a worsened state of health, higher mortality, and more expensive medical care.