Poor Health Literacy in Nigeria: Causes, Consequences and Measures to improve it

Abstract

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make an appropriate decisions concerning their health. It is one of the link by which the health status of individual and the health indices and statistics of our country can be improved upon. Factors influencing health literacy in Nigeria include the culture and belief system, poor and ineffective communication, lack of education and low educational level, and low socioeconomic status Low health literacy predisposes to poorer health status, poorer disease outcome, lack of understanding in the use of preventive services, frequent hospital visitations amongst others. Factors influencing health literacy must be identified and modified to help improve the health literacy level of the populace. This will invariably improve the health status of the populace with a resultant improvement in the health indices of our country. This is a call for the Government and Health Care Professionals to acknowledge low health literacy as a problem and, therefore, be willing to play their roles in tackling this problem to achieve a healthy Nation