 rs.
Davis came into our small rural library last week for the first
time in the 57 years that she has lived near town. She was looking
for a cookbook. It wasn't that she didn't know how to cook; she
had been preparing good hearty meat, potato and vegetable meals
for her family all her life. But now her husband had retired from
farming and his less active lifestyle was causing him to gain weight.
The doctor had recommended some changes to their eating habits,
and Mrs. Davis was looking for information. It didn't take long
for library staff to realize that meal planning was only one of
the problems that Mrs. Davis was facing.
Mrs. Davis is one of the nearly half of adult Canadians whose low
literacy skills have an effect on their ability to function on a
daily basis. She can read well enough to understand simple written
instructions and can recognize familiar words. When confronted with
recipes that compared types and grams of fat, however, she was totally
out of her depth.
Understanding a recipe is just one example of the relationship
between literacy and health. Research has documented the negative
effects of poor literacy on virtually all aspects of health, including
overall lifestyle, accidents, stress and use of health services.
| "Literacy means more than knowing
how to read, write or calculate. It involves understanding and
being able to use the information required to function effectively." |
Lifestyle
Researchers have discovered a strong correlation between literacy
and lifestyle. People with low literacy levels are more likely to
smoke, have poorer nutrition and avoid exercise. Further, they are
less likely to use seatbelts or wear bicycle helmets. Is this simply
because healthy lifestyle messages are not available to people with
low literacy levels in a format they can understand and use? It seems
unlikely. Studies show that providing health information on its own
does not bring about change, even if presented effectively. It is
only one of many strategies that needs to be implemented in order
to encourage people to change their lifestyles.
There is a clear link between literacy and income level. Those
whose literacy level restricts them to low paying jobs are more
likely to live in housing that is generally less safe because of
environmental hazards, traffic or crime. The connections between
literacy, income, housing and health are well documented.
Accidents
Many of the kinds of jobs that are open to workers with limited
literacy also tend to be the most physically dangerous occupations.
Information about job safety is frequently incomprehensible to workers
who lack basic literacy skills, and they are less likely to be aware
of potential dangers. As a result, accidents are all too common.
Accidents in the home are another issue. Improper use of chemicals,
machinery or appliances is more likely to occur when the instructions
that accompany them are too complex for a large part of the population.
Stress
Much has been written about the impact of stress on health. Indeed,
stress is now seen as a major health problem on its own, leading
to depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. It is also
implicated in a number of diseases and physical conditions. But
how is stress related to literacy?
Coping with low literacy is, in and of itself, a source of stress.
People who cannot gain adequate employment because of poor literacy
must also deal with unpredictable housing, potentially unsafe working
conditions and poor nutrition. They are more likely to suffer from
low self-esteem and feel alienated. And when they do encounter additional
stressful events, they have fewer resources to deal with them.
Use of health services
Poor literacy is directly related to the misuse of emergency health
services and failure to follow medical advice. Many adults with
low literacy skills don't know where to go for help with their health
and this, combined with fear of embarrassment and low self-confidence,
results in them waiting longer to seek professional assistance.
Illness is often neglected until it reaches a state of crisis. The
result - higher costs, both to the individual and the health care
system.
Where it all begins - children and literacy
Literacy and poverty are two elements in an ongoing cycle. Lack
of adequate income often results in lack of adequate nutrition.
Children who go to school hungry have more trouble concentrating
on their lessons, which affects their ability to learn. Poor grades
lead to frustration, lack of self-confidence, and higher drop-out
rates. Early school leaving leads to low paying jobs, poverty, and
the health risks associated with it. The cycle continues.
Plain language
Communication at a level that is readily understandable for someone
with a Grade 4-6 education is known as "Clear Language"
or "Plain Language". It is an important step in ensuring
that information is presented to people with low literacy at a level
and in a format that they can understand. However, it addresses
only one part of the problem. A comprehensive approach that deals
with the broader systemic issues in our society will have to be
implemented before the problems associated with low literacy can
truly be resolved.
| "Literacy is not an either-or situation
- it is a continuum of different skills levels." |
Taking control
One only has to look at the array of self-help books in the local
bookstores to see the need that people have to take control of their
lives. Most of us, from time to time, seek advice or reinforcement
when it comes to reaching our personal objectives. In rural communities,
where there is limited access to health professionals and lifestyle
specialists such as nutritionists and smoking cessation consultants,
there is an even greater reliance on "how-to" manuals.
For those with low literacy skills, even these resources are beyond
reach.
Conclusion
It was a strange sensation to sit down to write an article on literacy,
knowing that almost half the population of Canada would have difficulty
reading it. Reading is just one component of literacy, but it is
an important one. For those of us who depend on reading for information,
professional development and pure entertainment, it is hard to imagine
what life is like for those who struggle with reading, writing or
simple arithmetic. Our health, both as individuals and as a society,
depends on addressing this issue. The Mrs. Davis's of this world
are counting on us.
|
"We read to know we are not alone."
- C.S. Lewis
|
Resources:
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation.
Adult Learning Centre, Owen Sound
AlphaPlus Centre
Canadian Public Health Association: National Literacy and Health
Program
Perrin, Burt. How does Literacy affect the health of Canadians:
a profile paper. Health Canada, 1998.
Second Report of the International Adult Literacy Survey: "Literacy
Skills for the Knowledge Society"
|
This article was prepared by Adele Goldsmith for CHN. Adele Goldsmith enjoys reading in rural Ontario.
