Health Literacy is defined as the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions. Poor Health Literacy is associated with poorer health specially for patients with chronic diseases like Diabetes and Heart ailments. Health Literacy in India is plagued by the following isssues Overall poor education - translates to a very challenging environment for a physician - specially in complex health situations.
Health misinformation and superstitions - mental illness is the result of possession by evil spirits, if you take an antibiotic the cold will get better faster... Poor Health habits - making a doctor out of your Chemist by going to a chemist shop and asking him to prescribe medication for an ailment - my eyes are itching - give me some drops - which the Chemist…
