1 / 26

Enhancing Health Literacy Among School-Aged Children through Media and Communication Technology

Explore how media and new communication technology can be used effectively to promote health literacy among school-aged children, empowering them to make informed decisions and reduce health risks. This article discusses the importance of health literacy, the role of schools in promoting it, and examples of media initiatives and their impact.

ratchford
Download Presentation

Enhancing Health Literacy Among School-Aged Children through Media and Communication Technology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. How Media And New Communication Technology Can Be Used To Enhance Health Literacy Among Children At School Age Dr K Vijaya Director Corporate Marketing & Communication Division Health Promotion Board, Singapore

  2. Health Literacy The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

  3. Importance of Health Literacy Improving health literacy is one of the goals and objectives set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Healthy People 2010.

  4. Application of Health Literacy • Health promotion • Health protection • Disease prevention & screening • Care & maintenance • Access to care & navigation of system

  5. Benefits of Health Literacy Improving the health literacy of school-going children will empower them to: • Make the right decisions in their adult age • Reduce their chances of contracting diseases • Reduce the need for hospitalisation

  6. Promoting Health Literacy in Schools • Schools play a critical role in building health literacy • Classroom environment is conducive for dissemination of knowledge

  7. Advantages Accurate information provided in a captive setting Students can be assessed on their knowledge Disadvantages Didactic instructions no longer favored by Generation ‘Y’ What is taught in schools (theory) may not be applied in practice Promoting Health Literacy in Schools

  8. Youth exposed to mass media, Internet, mobile technology Youth influenced by peers, celebrities and media Consistency of messages taught in schools and media Influence of Media onHealth Literacy

  9. International examples: Weaved into popular US TV shows Story of patient suffering from HIV in “ER” HIV-prevention storyline in “Bold & The Beautiful” Promoting Health LiteracyThrough Media

  10. International examples: Use of media to educate Canadian youth on health risks of tobacco Interactive microsite in Australia to teach youth how to react to different situations US website for youth on sexuality, relationships etc Promoting Health LiteracyThrough Media

  11. The Singapore Experience

  12. Literacy rate : 95.4% Compulsory education for 6 years at Primary level Health education part of core curriculum in schools Universities and schools require students to submit projects and homework online Opportunities for Raising Health Literacy

  13. 74% of households in public housing and 92% in private housing have at least one computer 88% of households with school-going children have at least one computer Computer usage : 10-14 yrs : 85% 15-59 yrs : 68% Penetration of Internet Among Singapore School Children

  14. Internet Activities in Singapore Source : 2006 Annual Survey on Infocomm Usage by IDA

  15. Singapore’s Mobile Penetration • Penetration rate is 106.8% • Some own more than one mobile phone.

  16. Traditional & New Communication Technology • Utilised to enhance health literacy among Singapore school-going children

  17. Outdoor Marketing Radio Press Outreach Events Health Resources TV Internet Health Exhibition Center eDMs Mobile Health Information Center Multi-channel Marketing Reach out to Singaporeans

  18. Target Groups and Channels Used

  19. New Media Initiatives : • HPB Online • Podcast • Youth Health Blog • Audible Heart – peer led online counselling service • Mobile initiatives • Diet Tracker • Heart Rockz – health messages via mobile phones • SMS Voting

  20. New Media • Other youth microsites • Healthy Lifestyle microsites • Food Info Search • Osteoporosis microsite • Health Information Centre • HealthZone • New youth website

  21. Impact of Media & New Media Technology on Health Literacy Measured through : • Surveys • Focus groups • Pageviews, visits, hits to website

  22. In Summary… • Traditional and new media can be used both directly and subtly to influence school children's behaviour and cognitive thinking on health issues. • Important stage in their lives, when they are formulating their own identities and are still receptive to learning healthy lifestyle practices.

  23. In Summary… • Media and new communication technologies can be used to complement existing health education strategies implemented in schools.

  24. In Summary… • Repeated reinforcement of health messages through different channels can increase the rate of recall and awareness among school-going children, and be more likely to put into practice what they have learnt.

  25. Acknowledgement • Mrs Sarojini Thanarajah • Ms Vanessa Tan

  26. Thank You

More Related