The WHO Health Promotion Glossary (1998) defines health literacy this way:

Health literacy represents the cognitive and social skills which determine
the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and
use information in ways which promote and maintain good health.

Health literacy implies the achievement of a level of knowledge, personal
skills and confidence to take action to improve personal and community
health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions. Thus, health
literacy means more than being able to read pamphlets and make appointments.
By improving people's access to health information, and their capacity to
use it effectively, health literacy is critical to empowerment. Health
literacy is itself dependent upon more general levels of literacy. Poor
literacy can affect people's health directly by limiting their personal,
social and cultural development, as well as hindering the development of
health literacy.


Alana