Health literacy development for NCD prevention and control

Beating NCDs is a health literacy challenge.

A complex mixture of economic, social, commercial, and environmental determinants contributes to the global NCD epidemic and is exacerbated by a vicious circle of multilayered health inequalities and inequities. The knowledge and competencies, daily activities, and social interactions of people and communities determine if and how they can access, understand, appraise, remember, and use health information, maintain good health, or seek care for themselves and those around them. Therefore, health literacy is a fundamental steppingstone to curb the global epidemic of NCDs, reduce modifiable risk factors and address complex determinants of health.

A globally relevant perspective of health literacy acknowledges, respects and works within local social and cultural contexts to enable meaningful activities to improve health and equity outcomes. Health literacy development consequently works to develop and implement locally relevant health policies, systems, and services that respond to people’s needs and accelerate progress in NCD prevention and control.