The Way Forward for Child and Adolescent Health Literacy Development

The chapters in this book illustrate that in order for health literacy to be valued at a societal level and operationalized in every culture, context and country across the world, strong advocacy from members of the health literacy discipline will be required. The health literacy interventions delivered by each sector and delivered at the intersections between the health, education and community sectors all highlight that health literacy is clearly a cross-sectoral concern. This is especially true of interventions designed to support the development of health literacy with children and adolescents. What we know from our chapter authors and the synthesis of their findings is that four key strategies will be essential to improving the health literacy and, therefore, the health of our people and populations. These strategies are (1) establishing health literacy as a more well-known and central aspect of good health; (2) clarifying roles and supporting collaboration between the health, education and community sectors; (3) increasing health literacy research in children and young people; and (4) using these insights and directions to inform future research and practice. Much can be learnt from the country-level examples of health literacy initiatives designed to support our children and adolescents to be health-literate citizens. From our analysis of the chapters, we have formulated eight key propositions which are relevant to policymakers, practitioners and researchers. This book is a call to action to ensure health literacy is valued, developed and supported by all sectors if we are to optimize the health outcomes of children, families and communities now and in the future.