This fact sheet examines the relationship between literacy and health.

The authors point out that low literacy has been shown to have a negative effect on all aspects of health, including life expectancy, accident rates, and the prevalence of such diseases as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Literacy and health goals have a better chance of success when they are pursued together, the authors note. They call for the development of partnerships between health and literacy organizations; the use of clear language in both written and verbal communications; a participatory approach to helping people learn about and understand the health issues that affect them; and action on systemic issues, such as poverty, that adversely affect both literacy and health.

This document is part of a series prepared by the Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN) to draw attention to a variety of literacy-related topics.