Health literacy is the capacity to find, interpret and use information and health services to make effective decisions for health and wellbeing.
Research has shown there is a strong relationship between a person’s health literacy and their health status.
Supporting health literacy
Health literacy is supported by a health system focus on:
- services being easy to access and navigate
- effective health worker communication
- clear and relevant health messages that empower everyone to make informed choices.
Health literacy framework
We have developed A Framework for Health Literacy to support each level of the health and disability system in responding to the health literacy needs of all New Zealanders.