Promoting Health Literacy for Children and Adolescents

Only 12% of American adults have proficient health literacy, defined as a set of skills needed to effectively function in the health care system. 1 This is troubling given that health literacy is a stronger predictor of health than age, income, employment status, educational level, or race. 2 A growing body of research also shows that low health literacy is associated with worse child health outcomes, 3 higher health care costs, and elevated mortality rates.(1) Although Americans are increasingly expected to be knowledgeable consumers of health care, it is clear that many individuals lack the core health literacy skills needed to understand their health insurance. 4 This inadequate understanding of health care information creates challenges beyond the selection of a health insurance plan or payment calculations. Poor health literacy, including health numeracy, extends into one's ability to seek care at an appropriate time, navigate through the health system, and share in important medical decisions. In this Perspective, we describe national efforts to combat low health literacy rates and argue that they fail to adequately prepare children and adolescents to be health-literate adults. We then propose several steps for educators, health care providers, and policymakers to improve health literacy among children and adolescents in the United States.