COVID-19: health literacy is an underestimated problem.

The Children of Risk Communication

For the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk communication has been a much-needed preventive and educative action to support citizens – including children – to adopt preventive and health protective measures. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not the only health concern at hand that has raised concerns about the health status of children and required disease-preventive strategies. Bearing in mind the mental health problems and learning losses reported during the pandemic, in this commentary, we will argue that by now, it is time to consider critically if there could be more space for positive communication and education, both alongside and as an integral part of risk communication, to…

WHO Working Group on Health Literacy in Schools

Abstract Background Addressing children`s and adolescents` health literacy is a bedrock for personal and societal growth, health and wellbeing over the life-course, and sustainable development in the WHO European Region and beyond. Promoting health literacy competencies should already be addressed in schools. To outline a strategy for the national education sectors, WHO Europe has launched a working group on health literacy in schools, which aims to develop a conceptual framework for decision makers within the educational and health sector to advocate for health literacy, facilitate the implementation process, and support the uptake on the national level. Methods Based on expert workshops a…

Health Literacy : Talking the Language of (School) Education

"Missed" Information: A Moral Failing that Erodes Efforts to Tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Addressing health literacy in schools in the WHO European Region

Health literacy is a key determinant of health (1). Several studies have reported a positive association between high levels of health literacy and better health outcomes in children (2-4). For example, the WHO collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey found that health literacy is one of the main factors contributing to health differences and is associated with educational outcomes such as academic achievement and post-school aspirations (4). Health literacy is a useful phenomenon in the understanding and reduction of avoidable health disparities because it can be learned and developed (4–6). However, children’s health literacy should not merely be seen as a risk…