Health literacy comprises personal and organizational components.
Healthy People 2030 defines personal health literacy as “the degree to which individuals can find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”
Healthy People 2030 defines organizational literacy as “the degree to which organizations enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”
The emphasis in these definitions lies on the individual’s ability to use health information and services to make “well-informed” health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
WLT aims to empower young adults ages 18 to 39 to intentionally adopt and sustain positive health behaviors, achieve optimal well-being, and lead a purpose-driven life. To ensure that our priority population attains an adequate level of Health literacy, we conducted a literature search to understand the current level of health literacy among young adults in the US and Washington, DC.
The United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), conducted the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) in 2003. The age-stratified health literacy proficiency by percentages pulled from the NCES report is as follows:
“One of the key findings from representative population data in non-representative research is, “at least 88% of adults living in the US have health literacy inadequate to navigate the healthcare system and promote their well-being ( 55% intermediate proficiency, 22% basic proficiency, and 14% below basic proficiency); only 12% are proficiently health literate”.
“DC Health Equity Report for the District of Columbia ( 2018) discusses limited health literacy locally and cities nationally estimate, but does not present a DC NAAL Style estimate”.
Follow us on our website, blog, social media, and at conferences, seminars, workshops, community forums, and community fellowships.WLT uses evidence-based health information from Healthy People 2030 and the HHS National Action Plan so that our priority population can understand and take action to improve their health literacy. Attaining health literacy proficiency among young adults enhances the adoption and maintenance of positive health behaviors, the achievement of optimal health and well-being, and the reduction of health disparities and inequities among subpopulation groups.