Analysis and Synthesis: Intersections and Opportunities Between Health, Education and Community Sectors

A socio-ecological perspective provides a useful lens for children’s health literacy development. From this perspective, context is paramount, which is particularly relevant for this book which brings together viewpoints from 17 different countries. A socio-ecological perspective is multi-level which enables us to explore health literacy development at the individual, family/carers, organisational, community and macro-policy levels. The chapters in this book provide examples of health literacy actions at each of these levels. Even more evident is the need for cross-sectoral collaboration to coordinate efforts across and within these levels to optimise health literacy development. These cross-sectoral efforts are critical for addressing social determinants of health, including health literacy. While the socio-ecological perspective provides a common basis for exploration, there is such diversity across the three themes of education, health and community, that each theme area has been analysed separately. This chapter presents each analysis in turn in an effort to synthesise the key findings and recommendations in each chapter. We have identified the recurring ideas within each theme area and examined these with reference to other research. Where there is overlap between the recurring ideas across more than one theme area, this has been discussed where it predominantly appeared. The analysis and synthesis in this chapter have informed the development of key propositions that feature in the conclusion chapter.