A study of low-income Hispanic parents of infants who received age-appropriate children’s books from their pediatric healthcare providers showed similar results. With a 96% follow-up rate after 10 months, parents in the treatment intervention were 10 times as likely to read to their child three or more days per week, and to include reading among their three favorite parent-child activities (Golova, 1999). These studies demonstrate that delivering literacy interventions to children and their families in the pediatric healthcare setting has a positive impact on literacy. Acknowledging the impact of literacy on so many critical aspects of our lives, how can proponents of children’s literacy ensure that educators, physicians, and families prioritize books and reading for all young people? How can we improve the quality of a child’s literacy environment?
WE MUST TREAT LITERACY AS THE URGENT PUBLIC-HEALTH CRISIS IT IS.
There is no denying that the United States' literacy crisis poses significant health risks to our nation. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), 21% of adults in the United States (about 43 million) fall into the illiterate/functionally illiterate category. Nearly two-thirds of fourth graders read below grade level, and the same number graduate from high school still reading below grade level (2022). The American Journal of Public Health reports that the inability to read and understand health information accounts for $232 billion spent in healthcare costs each year, with studies linking low literacy to problems with use of preventive services, delayed diagnosis, adherence to medical instructions, and more (Rea, 2020). As poor literacy skills in adulthood are associated with both physical and mental health challenges, we must acknowledge the “central role of the pediatrician in school readiness” and expand pediatric primary care-based literacy interventions, which have the potential to reach children long before they enter traditional educational avenues (Hutton et al., 2019, p. 1). While healthcare providers agree on the importance of providing literacy education, many do not know where to begin, nor do they have the resources required to triage literacy and reading challenges.
READING FOR LIFE: THE IMPACT OF YOUTH LITERACY ON HEALTH OUTCOMES 12
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