Experts definitely think so, and there is plenty of research to back this up. Welcome to the field of health literacy.
If “health literacy” is not a term that you’ve heard of before, then you’re not alone. Researchers and health organizations use it, but it certainly hasn’t made its way into everyday conversation just yet.
Here at Flo, we think it’s time that changes. We want you to know what health literacy means and why knowledge is power when it comes to your health, particularly your menstrual health.
What is health literacy?
OK, so we’re going to get a little technical for a moment, but trust us, it’ll be worth it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health literacy as “the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Importantly, the WHO acknowledges that health literacy goes beyond the ability to read leaflets, schedule doctor’s appointments, or follow your doctor’s recommendation. It’s a more holistic concept that includes a diverse range of skills and knowledge that helps you take care of your health and the health of your loved ones.
In the United States, the definition — courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — is even more extensive:
“Personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”
In addition to this definition, the CDC also includes organizational health literacy in the overarching concept of health literacy. “Organizational health literacy is the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others,” it states.
This is important, because it means that health literacy is not just the responsibility of individuals. Organizations like government departments dedicated to health and education play a huge role in helping everyone develop the knowledge and skills that make up their health literacy.
Why is health literacy important?
When a person’s health literacy is not very high, it can have a negative impact on their overall, long-term health.
Researchers have found links between low health literacy and higher rates of hospitalizations, greater use of emergency care, and lower rates of mammography screening and influenza vaccine uptake. They also found that older adults with low health literacy had poorer overall health and higher mortality rates.
Health literacy levels are low across the globe, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. That means education and health care systems are universally failing to equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to take control of their health.
Looking back at the definitions from the CDC, it’s clear that low organizational health literacy is a root cause.
What is menstrual health literacy?
Menstrual health literacy is one aspect of health literacy. It focuses specifically on the knowledge and skills that women and people who menstruate need to navigate their reproductive health.
The levels of menstrual health literacy are also low throughout the world, which has negative health consequences.
For example, there are long-standing misconceptions around the levels of pain and cramps that are normal during periods, which can stop those impacted by pain from seeking medical help. This, in turn, has been linked with more time taken off from school or work.
So, women and people who menstruate are missing out on education or work because no one has taught them that there are treatments available for painful periods — and that they do not need to experience debilitating pain.
This is also true for many reproductive health conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis, where there are often very long delays to getting a diagnosis.
If someone doesn’t know the signs of these conditions, and their environment supports the belief that their symptoms are normal, then it’s unlikely that they will seek, or get, the care they need to manage their health.
How can menstrual health literacy be improved?
It’s pretty clear that low levels of health literacy spell bad news for all of us. But it’s important not to lay the blame on individuals. If health education, particularly around menstrual health, isn’t a focus in schools, communities, or health care systems, then where should this knowledge come from?
Coupled with the stigma around menstrual health that’s pervasive in society, improving levels of menstrual health literacy might seem like a gargantuan task.
Access to educational materials is one strategy to address this. We saw this in one of our own research studies.
When women had access to the Flo app for three months, with its large library of medically reviewed health content, their levels of health knowledge and menstrual health awareness were higher compared with women who didn’t have the app.
In this study, we also showed that women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) improved their levels of knowledge about their condition to a greater extent if they used the Flo app for three months compared with not using the app. They also reported taking fewer days off work or school when they used Flo.
There are also studies showing that when women used internet-based, educational cognitive behavioral therapy for PMS or PMDD, their knowledge and quality of life improved, and they report that their symptoms are less severe.
Improving health literacy, including menstrual health literacy, is possible, and greater levels of knowledge are linked to better long-term health outcomes.
That’s why access to evidence-based, medically reviewed health information is at the heart of Flo’s mission.
