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Essay on Literacy and its Effects on Health
The latest literacy study by Statistics Canada shows that millions of Canadians do not have the literacy skills they need to keep pace with the escalating demands of our society and economy. This loss of potential impacts on the social and economic well-being of individuals, families, communities and our country. The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (IALSS 2003, pg, 20) sheds light on our current literacy challenges and also connects those challenges to some of Canada’s most pressing social and economic issues.
Literacy
Literacy is more than the ability to decode words. Indeed, as the summary to the Second Report of the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS, Pg.93): Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society1 indicates: "Literacy means more than knowing how to read, write or calculate. It involves understanding and being able to use the information required to function effectively."
This has some important implications:
- Literacy is a moving target. As the Second IALS Report indicates 2003: "While most people can read, the real question is whether their reading and writing skills meet the challenge of living and working in today's . society." As the demands of society change, so do the necessary literacy skills required to function.
- Literacy involves comprehension and understanding — not only of the written word, but also of the spoken word. Literacy, for example, is a key factor in the ability to understand and to be able to act upon verbal directions from health professionals, e.g. doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists and others.
Literacy skills enhance flexibility. They enable people to deal with change and with unfamiliar contexts It is really surprising to learn that many Canadians lack the basic literacy skills required to deal with the increasingly complex demands of everyday living.
- Almost 50% of Canadian adults can't work well with words and numbers...........
