Health Information Literacy: A Road Map for Poverty Alleviation in the Developing Countries

Abstract

The paper evaluates the scale of poverty in the developing countries and the available evidence on the impact of growth on poverty. The impacts of poverty in developing countries were emphasized and efforts at its reduction on the population were discussed. In addition, health information literacy was defined and discussed as a panacea for poverty alleviation in developing countries. The health literacy is defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decision.” The paper emphasized the necessity for organizations and individuals, both poor and rich, to respond to the need for health literacy initiatives and the need to improve access to health information by making it more available and readable for average readers in developing countries. The roles to be taken by libraries and librarians in developing countries towards health information literacy and poverty reduction were itemized.

KEYWORDS:

• developing countries
• health literacy
• librarians
• poverty