Health Literacy as an Empowerment Tool for Low-Income Mothers

Abstract

Health literacy commonly refers to the extent to which one can access and accurately interpret healthcare information. Statistics reveal that limited health literacy is prevalent among those of lower socioeconomic status. When working with low-income mothers, it is recommended in this article that healthcare professionals operationalize a broader conceptualization of health literacy than assessment of reading levels and translating knowledge of risk factors for illness and disease. Nutbeam's continuum of functional, interactive, and critical health literacy directs healthcare professionals to expand their health education mandate to encompass equipping low-income mothers with the necessary knowledge and skills to gain control over their lives and optimize the healthy development of their children. Tenets from social cognitive theory, principles from interdependence theory, and strategies from Freire's empowerment education model are integral to successful progression along Nutbeam's health literacy continuum.

The Nexus Between Health Literacy and Empowerment

“…Likewise, a person with the motivation and power (selfesteem and control) to behave and act according to his or her own decisions does not necessarily have the skills or knowledge required to do so. Porr et al (2006) consider that the mediating effect of empowerment may be found in progressive levels of literacy and social and personal skills. As the authors view the issue, the important factors in the process are the individuals' competences and self-efficacy, along with critical thinking and reflection.…”

“…The purpose of this scoping review was to examine what is known about the nexus between health literacy and empowerment and the mechanism by which empowerment may emerge as an outcome of health literacy. The review, however, could not identify any articles describing this issue (Mogford et al, 2011;Nutbeam, 2000;Porr et al, 2006;Schulz & Nakamoto, 2013;Sykes et al, 2013).…”

Health and legal literacy for migrants: twinned strands woven in the cloth of social justice and the human right to health care

“…To question from a political perspective whether it is absolutely necessary that every migrant achieve the level of knowledge of system literacy required to challenge injustice and advocate for changes to social determinants of health. Certainly the literature is robust and evidenced that critical health literacy is vital in order to achieve empowerment, to understand a community's notion of what constitutes health for them in their symbolic and relational paradigm, and for an individual or community to tackle the political task of changing social determinants of health (including for example: [11, 15, 16, 18, 40, 52, 72–74, 76]). But the question can still be read in from economic [77] and philosophical standpoints [21]: is critical health literacy a necessary ability for everyone?…”

“…The literature surveyed did not contemplate the question as to the most appropriate professionals for assisting migrants in this task. Where contemplated the presumption was that nurses would assist migrants in understanding their rights [40, 61, 76]. But the question remains as to the reasonableness of that presumption, and the roles and responsibilities that health care and legal system workers carry in terms of making an active contribution to increasing health and legal literacy in a gender and culture sensitive manner among migrants, and for that matter for every citizen seeking their respective services.…”

Empowerment in the Process of Health Messaging for Rural Low-Income Mothers: An Exploratory Message Design Project

“…Empowerment has been defined in numerous ways, and involves the processes by which individuals gain perceived autonomy and confidence to achieve control over issues of concern to them (Balit 2004;Bergsma 2004;Egbert and Parrott 2001;Jensen 2002;Johnson, Worell, and Chandler 2005;Kar, Pascual, and Chickering 1999;Krummel, Humphries, and Tessaro 2002;Pistella et al 2000;Porr, Drummond, and Richter 2006;Powe 2002;Rappaport 1987;Varkey, Kureshi, and Lesnick 2010). In health promotion, empowerment of women "is the key to successful programs for social change that affect the quality of life and health of poor and powerless families and communities" (Kar, Pascual, andChickering 1999, 1433).…”