IMPROVING HEALTH LITERACY FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW LITERACY: AN ANALYSIS OF A SOUTH AFRICAN HIV HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMME
self-care and management, health promotion, as a strategy becomes too broad and ineffective as an intervention strategy. Thus, researchers and clinicians are now interested in understanding why and how individuals seek, obtain and use health information, rather than providing general information at a society level. This translated to a much- needed focus on health information, which may enable individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Health literacy and low health literacy have received increased attention due to their association with poor understanding of health information, and consequently negative health outcomes. Although much research discusses health literacy and its role, there are gaps in explaining the relationship between health literacy and low literacy, as well as various determinants of health (i.e. social, cultural, political, etc.). This relationship is particularly significant for lower- and middle-income countries where most clients might not even speak English as a first THIS BOOK AIMS TO SHARE CONTENT VIEWS NOT ONLY OF THE SCHOLARS, RESEARCHERS, DEVELOPERS AND POLICY MAKERS; BUT ALSO THOSE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE HEALTH INTERVENTIONS. SUCH A BOOK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO APPRAISE A DIFFERENT ANGLE OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND LITERACY, WHICH HAS RARELY BEEN MADE AVAILABLE IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PHENOMENON WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE SETTING, SINCE THESE SOURCES ARE USUALLY BIASED TO THE VIEWS OF PERSONS WITH ADEQUATE LITERACY.
Health information needs are predominantly addressed by means of broad health promotion interventions. These interventions’ view health needs from the individual, interpersonal, community, environmental and political perspectives. Usually these materials come in a written form known as Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. Researchers and programme developers realise that successful health promotion interventions should be informed by epidemiological studies, which take into account the social, cultural and economic influences and programme evaluations. It is believed that the combination of all these sources of data contributes to the development of effective health promotion interventions, which carry the potential of addressing a variety of health needs. These health needs include addressing health literacy for different audiences, health conditions education levels. With the enhanced attention on prevention of lifestyle illness,
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