1889 JCPH decorates Central Park scarecrow

What is Health Literacy?

Health literacy is a key component of improving health and fostering a trusting relationship with healthcare professionals.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines personal health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”



Every day, people make choices about their health, whether it be when to see a doctor or even what to eat. Making choices to stay healthy means knowing how to read and understand food and medicine labels, locate the nearest doctor, understand paperwork, and pay medical bills. These skills are not taught.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Exercise, eating healthy, and regular medical appointments are well-known factors in a person’s overall health; however, a surprising factor – education – has been studied and is now included as a factor of life expectancy.

The County Health Rankings interactive model identifies education as a Social and Economic Factor, which accounts for 40% of a person’s overall health outcomes. Other health outcomes include:

• Health Behaviors – 30%
• Clinical Care – 20%
• Physical Environment – 10%



Education falling into the most important category speaks volumes to how it affects health.