Question

How does poor health literacy affect public health and the healthcare system overall? Consider health decisions, health outcomes, costs, error rates, as well as family and community health. Discuss this question from various stakeholder viewpoints (i.e. policy makers, citizens, administrators, providers, patients, caregivers).

Answer 1

Health literacy means aware of what is health , what are the risk factors to health, what are the complications of not maintaing good health habits etc. People who have poor health literacy means they don't know anything about health - what is health ,what to do if disease occurs ,what are the risk factors ,what are good health habits etc.

In India the percentage of people who are illiterate is around. 25 % -27 %. Eventhough it's less ,but as we say even a small negative wibe can destroy the happiness ,same way small percentage of illiterate will have a huge negative impact on the public health.

Public health means the health of public , it is severely affected by the literary status of people living in the community. These people don't follow the hygienic habits and roam here and there untidy. If these people get sick also they don't come to the hospital because they are not aware that what should be done when they have some discomfort.

If they reach hospital with the help of other people then they don't know how to interact with the doctor ,they are unable to understand the doctor's words and stand dump in the hospital until a help arrives itself .

Overall , poor health literacy lead to increased number of deaths and increase in number of progressive diseases , malignancies ,communicable diseases. Healthcare system does not have patients in the hospital as patients consider themselves as healthy and does not reach hospital at initial stage and after some time these same people reach hospital in a progressive stage .

Inappropriate or inadequate knowledge of doctors aslo is a unhealthy and unethical practice. This will cost too much for both the patient and healthcare industry. .Any mistake from any of the staffs caring the patient is legal and legal actions will be taken by the family.