Journal of Health Literacy

Journal of Health Literacy

The Role of Health Literacy in The Prevention of Covid-19

Document Type : Letter to the editor

Authors
Rahman Panahi 1
Leila Dehghankar 2
Mohammad Anbari 3
1 Ph.D. in Health Education & Promotion, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Nursing, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, School of Nursing & Midwifery,Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
3 MS.C in Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
10.22038/jhl.2021.55702.1150
Abstract
The Covid-19 infectious disease is caused by a new coronavirus. Its outbreak was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and it quickly became a pandemic of this century [1]. The rapid spread of the virus has caused countries to face a large number of infected people, so that as of August 8, 2020, globally, 19,187,943 people have been infected by the virus, and 716,075 people have died.. It is estimated that the mortality rate of this disease is between 1 to 5%, but it varies with age and other health conditions such as a history of underlying diseases . A significant proportion of deaths from Covid-19 infectious occur in the elderly and those with underlying diseases .Preventive behaviors play an important role in reducing the morbidity and mortality of this disease . Measures such as training, awareness promoting, attitude, and adopting preventative and protective actions are an important strategy to prevent Covid-19.
Keywords
Health Literacy
Prevention
Covid-19
1. Khazaee-Pool M, Shahrvsand S, Naghibi S A. Predicting Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors Based on Health Belief Model: An Internet-Based Study in Mazandaran Province, Iran. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci. 2020; 30(190): 56-66.
 
2. Khazaei S, Bashirian S, Jenabi E, Barati M, Karimi-Shahanjarini A, Moeini B, et al. COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and its Related Beliefs among Health Workers: The Role of Threat and Coping Appraisals. J Educ Community Health. 2020; 7(3): 221-227.
https://doi.org/10.29252/jech.7.3.221  
 
3. Xiang Y-T, Yang Y, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Cheung T, et al. Timely mental health care for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is urgently needed. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020; 7(3): 228-9.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30046-8  
 
4. Paakkari L, Okan O. COVID-19: health literacy is an underestimated problem. Lancet Public Health. 2020; 5(5): e249-e250.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30086-4  
 
5- Nguyen TT, Le NT, Nguyen MH, Pham LV, Do BN, Nguyen HC, et al. Health Literacy and Preventive Behaviors Modify the Association between Pre-Existing Health Conditions and Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms: A Multi-Institutional Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(22):8598.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228598
PMid:33228096 PMCid:PMC7699410  
 
6. Panahi R, Ramezankhani A, Tavousi M. Health literacy and preventive behaviors. Journal of Research & Health. 2018; 8(2): 93-4.
https://doi.org/10.29252/jrh.8.2.93  
 
7. Peyvand M, Kargar S, Hajizade F. The Role of Health Literacy Promotion in Epidemic Control Corona 19. Journal of Health Literacy. 2020;5(1):9-11.
https://doi.org/10.22038/jhl.2020.47609.1109