SynthesisBMC public health2024
The low health literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Health Literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Research Developments.Journal of prevention (2022) · 2026Review
- Analysis of the consultations on the InfoChagas digital platform.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- [Development of a measure of functional health literacy: application of Item Response Theory].Cadernos de saude publica · 2026Article
- Psychometric validation of the Spanish HLS-EU-Q16 in Ecuador: evidence for health literacy assessment and public health education.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish HLS-COVID-Q22 Questionnaire for Measuring Health Literacy on COVID-19 in Peru.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations.Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundHealth literacy (HL) impacts people's health and well-being. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), there are no general estimates of the prevalence of low HL. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of low HL among citizens of LAC and identify the tools used to measure it.
methodsWe included observational studies quantifying the prevalence of low HL in people living in LAC. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, LILACS, PsycINFO, Redalyc, SciELO, Web of Science, PQDT, and the reference lists of the included studies in June 2023. Two reviewers independently conducted the selection, extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Meta-analysis of proportions using random effects models was used to summarize the prevalence of low HL estimated. This prevalence was measured in each study using different classification methods: word recognition items, reading and numeracy comprehension items, and self-reported comprehension items.
resultsEighty four studies involving 23,914 participants from 15 countries were included. We identified 23 tools to assess HL, and most of the studies were carried out in health services. The pooled prevalence of low HL were 44.02% (95%CI: 36.12-52.24) for reading and numeracy comprehension items, 50.62% (95%CI: 41.82-59.39) for word recognition items, and 41.73% (95%CI: 31.76-52.43) for self-reported comprehension items.
conclusionDespite the variability in the prevalence of low HL and a diversity of tools, the average of low HL is of concern. Almost half of the participants in the included studies have low HL. Most of the studies targeted users of healthcare services. Further research investigating the prevalence of low HL in the general population and actions focused on health education, communication, and information are necessary.
trial registrationPROSPERO (CRD42021250286).
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.