KidsPoll: Children Chime in About Health Literacy and Where They Go for Answers

January 14, 2005

Sure, most kids understand that colds cause sniffly noses and chickenpox make them itch like crazy. But did you ever wonder what children know - or think they know - about general health (everything from eating right to spreading germs)? And where, exactly, are they getting their information, as well as their misinformation? Are they turning to peers to answer their health-related questions, or are familiar adults still their health teachers of choice?

According to a new KidsHealth® KidsPoll survey of 1,178 9- to 13-year-olds, it turns out that the majority of kids surveyed say they would turn to trusted adults if they had an important health question:

• 31% would ask a parent
• 29% would ask a doctor or nurse
• 21% would ask a teacher

A collaboration of the Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth.org, the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the National Association of Health Education Centers (NAHEC), and participating health education centers throughout the United States, the KidsPoll also found, surprisingly, that many children say they would not trust their friends or TV for health information. About three-quarters of the kids surveyed say those two sources give the most wrong information about health.

What's Health Literacy and Why Is It Important for Kids?

Health literacy refers to the ability to read and understand information provided about health conditions. This can be a serious problem for those who are older or don't speak English - they may get health information or instructions from their doctor that they don't understand. As a result, they may not know how much medicine to take or how to best take care of their illness. So, it's especially important for kids and adults who may have trouble understanding written information to know where - or to whom - they can go if they have questions.

Getting sick (even if it's a common condition like pinkeye) can be scary and overwhelming for children and adults alike. And medical procedures - whether they're as basic as getting a shot or as complex as going through surgery - can seem downright terrifying.

Being armed with the answers - the right ones, that is - can help to educate and, therefore, reassure your child about his or her own health. Being health literate can help people of all ages understand information about their own health so that they know how to take better care of themselves and make good decisions that will affect them not only now, but later.

If your child has a health condition, such as asthma for example, being health literate means that your child knows what asthma is and how to treat it. It means your child has gone to a trustworthy source, like your doctor, and received information that he or she understood. And now, if your child has any breathing troubles, he or she will know that a certain number of puffs from an inhaler will help. Your child will also know when to call the doctor or go to the emergency room for more serious problems.