What is health literacy?

Health literacy refers to the capacity of individuals to access, understand, and utilize health-related information to make informed decisions about their health and healthcare. This encompasses not only the ability to read and comprehend health materials, such as instructions on medication or nutrition labels, but also includes critical thinking skills needed to interpret and apply health information effectively.

The focus on obtaining and understanding health-related information is crucial because it directly impacts individuals' ability to navigate the healthcare system, engage in self-care, and communicate effectively with healthcare providers. Essentially, higher health literacy enables individuals to take charge of their health, leading to better health outcomes and overall wellness.

The other options describe skills or concepts that are not specific to health literacy. For example, basic math abilities, functional literacy, and academic proficiency relate to different educational or cognitive skills but do not capture the health-specific context of literacy that is necessary for managing personal health effectively.