Health Literacy in School

Abstract

Health literacy is a core element of patient-centered healthcare. Poor health literacy is a silent epidemic across the globe as it affects every aspect of health. Schools bear an important role in increasing health literacy. Improving health literacy in adolescence is supposed to improve the later life as adolescents are used to carry their modified behavior lifelong. Various school-based interventions covering physical and mental health have been studied and found to be effective. International bodies recommend incorporation of health-related tasks into school lessons and considered that teaching the young people will be a good investment for future. Multisectoral collaborations and locally proved effective strategies are the practical challenges. This chapter aims to focus on health literacy, global scenario of health literacy, measurement tools, role of school, interventions, limitations, and challenges of health literacy.