A NGO s Role in Improving Global Health Literacy Charletta A Ayers, MD, MPH Chief, General OB/GYN Division Director, Academic Faculty Scholars Vice Chair,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Rutgers University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Global Health Literacy Improvement of Health and well being Reducing Health Inequalities
What is Health Literacy? the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions Public Law 102-73. The National Literacy Act of 1991.
Health Literacy is Dependent Optional Presentation Title Individual Factors Systemic Factor
Health Literacy Communication skills of lay persons and professionals Optional Presentation Title Lay and professional knowledge of health topics Culture Demands of the healthcare and public health systems Demands of the situation/context
Health literacy affects people's ability to: Navigate the healthcare system, including filling out complex forms and locating providers and services Share personal information, such as health history, with providers Engage in self-care and chronic-disease management Understand mathematical concepts such as probability and risk
Health Literacy : A prescription to End Confusion National Academic Press 2004
Health Literacy Optional Presentation Title
Strategies Governmental Nongovernmental
Governmental Strategy South Africa
Non Governmental Strategy World Bank Non governmental organization Local Community Outreach Optional Presentation Title
International Healthcare Volunteers Founded in 2001 Provides healthcare to women and their families in underserved areas Ghana and Jamaica Over 11,000 individuals have been touched by 360 IHCV volunteers www.ihcv.org
International Healthcare Volunteers Goals Clinical/ Surgical Care Outreach Technical Support IHCV Goals Continued Medical Education Community Education/ Media
IHCV Health Literacy Promotion Optional Presentation Title Purpose Include cultural sensitive training and literature for the promotion of health literacy Spearheaded by Roseanne Marrone, RN Public Health Nurse IHCV Medical Committee Public Health Capstone Students
IHCV Strategy for Health Literacy Optional Presentation Title When developing IHCV health promotion programs and literature the following questions were used: Is the information appropriate for the users? Is the information easy to use? Are you speaking clearly and listening carefully?
IHCV- Promotion of Health Literacy Acknowledge cultural differences and practice respect. Accepted roles of men and women Value of traditional medicine versus Western medicine Favorite and forbidden foods Manner of dress Body language
IHCV Promotion of Health Literacy Ensure that health information is relevant to the intended users' social and cultural contexts.
Diarrheal diseases Second leading cause of childhood mortality worldwide In 2010, diarrhea was responsible for 0.8 million deaths of children below the age of five years, accounting for 10.5% of all deaths within that age group 78% of all pediatric diarrhea-associated deaths occurring in the African and South-East Asian. WHO Report Childhood Illness 2010
#1 Reduction of Mortality of Pediatric Diarrhea in Apam Community Apam Community, Chief Council and Wives Public Health Nurses Program Partnerships Innovative strategies for screening at risk individuals Continuing medical education programs for hygiene and early warning signs for family members using cultural sensitive group sessions and pamphlets. Policy Council of Chiefs and their wives, Public Health Nurses, Pediatric Nurses, Ghana Health Nurses Christian Health Association, UNICEF. WHO in Pediatric Ghana illness 2014 Health Services
Hypertension In Ghana The number of reported new cases of hypertension in outpatient public health facilities in Ghana increased more than ten-fold from 49,087 in 1988 to 505,180 in 2007 Hypertension ranks as the fifth commonest cause of outpatient morbidity. Stroke and hypertension are the leading causes of admission and death. Hypertension is an important cause of heart and renal failure in Ghana Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana.Awuah RB1, Anarfi JK, Agyemang C, Ogedegbe G, Aikins Ad. Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate: Annual Report 2007. 2008, Accra: Ghana Health Service
#2 BP Screening Program Community Program Crude HTN prevalence 20-48% BP Screening, Outreach to community leaders Training of community of the risk of HTN Optional Presentation Title Partnership Policy Community and Political leadership,\ Senior Centers Central Regional Hospital Administration / Ghana Health Service African Methodist Women Group of level Increased Community Awareness /
Opportunities Identifying current activities, policy, standards and stakeholders of health literacy Consulting with stakeholders to analyze current gaps and opportunities Developing an action-learning based community participation plans Facilitating implementation and monitoring of the plan Identifying and disseminating participation resources What is Health Literacy. 2004
Next Steps Identifying current activities, policy, standards and stakeholders of health literacy Consulting with stakeholders to analyze current gaps and opportunities Developing an action-learning based community participation plans Facilitating implementation and monitoring of the plan Identifying and disseminating participation resources Health Literacy Around the World, National Academics 2012