This document discusses health literacy issues for recent immigrants living in rural Nova Scotia. It defines health literacy and proposes a systems approach. It notes that recent immigrants in rural areas face additional barriers to health literacy due to factors like language, social isolation, and an unfamiliar healthcare system. The document suggests collaborations between English as Second Language teachers and health professionals could help address these issues by improving health education for immigrant communities.
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
A systems approach_to_strengthening_health_lit
1. A Systems Approach to Strengthening Health Literacy: Recent Immigrants Living in Rural Nova Scotia
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. Geographic name Total Population Non-immigrant population Immigrant population Immigrated before 1991 Immigrated between 1991 & 1995 Immigrated between 1996 & 2000 Immigrated between 2001 & 2006 Canada 31 241 030 24 788 720 6 186 950 3 408 420 823 925 844 625 1109980 Nova Scotia 903 090 854 495 45 190 30 305 3 540 4 445 6900 Halifax, CMA 369 455 339 840 27 410 16 590 2 460 3 295 5055 Cape Breton, CA 104 655 102 800 1 730 1 370 80 125 150 Truro, CA 44 580 42 720 1 810 1 370 140 115 190 New Glasgow, CA 35 755 34 805 885 750 15 20 95 Kentville, CA 25 800 24 780 1 010 815 45 50 100 Antigonish, CD 18 715 17 835 810 640 40 40 85
16. Geographic name Total Population Non- immigrant population Immigrant population Immigrated before 1991 Immigrated between 1991 & 1995 Immigrated between 1996 & 2000 Immigrated between 2001 & 2006 Canada 100% 79.3% 19.8% 10.9% 2.6% 2.7% 3.6% Nova Scotia 100% 94.6% 5.0% 3.4% 0.4% 0.5% 0.8% Halifax, CMA 100% 92.0% 7.4% 4.5% 0.7% 0.9% 1.4% Cape Breton, CA 100% 98.2% 1.7% 1.3% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Truro, CA 100% 95.8% 4.1% 3.1% 0.3% 0.3% 0.4% New Glasgow, CA 100% 97.3% 2.5% 2.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.3% Kentville, CA 100% 96.0% 3.9% 3.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% Antigonish, CD 100% 95.3% 4.3% 3.4% 0.5% 0.3% 0.9%
17.
18. she’s from Argentina and quite often the doctor doesn’t listen to her maybe because the doctor doesn’t have time to listen very carefully to the way she’s saying things and the doctor doesn’t have the time to get her accent to make sure what she’s saying is clear so I think that maybe that some doctors don’t have the time or the inclination to listen to a non-English speaker Teacher recounts a student's experience at a doctor's office
19.
20.
21.
22.
Notas do Editor
EAL = English as an Additional Language Re #3 to raise awareness of health literacy; enhance recent immigrants’ settlement, integration and wellbeing; and improve overall population health
This framework is consistent with population health approaches that recognize “health is a capacity or resource rather than a state” (Frankish, et al, 1996).
People draw upon health literacy skills
Individual issues include reading and writing ability Other barriers include: declines associated with aging; low levels of formal education; lack of health knowledge and skills; having a mother tongue other than English or French; living with disabilities; social stigma; and experiences in early childhood. (from Expert Panel, 2008)
Others are listed, but I suggest these are particularly relevant to today's presentation.
All definitions on slides 14 - 16 come from Statistics Canada's
[Geographic name] The total population count includes the non-immigrant population, the immigrant population and the non-permanent resident population. The non-permanent resident population is not shown separately in this table. [Total population] Non-immigrants are persons who are Canadian citizens by birth. Although most Canadian citizens by birth were born in Canada, a small number were born outside Canada to Canadian parents. [Non-immigrant population] Immigrants are persons who are, or have ever been, landed immigrants in Canada. A landed immigrant is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others are more recent arrivals. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number were born in Canada. Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to Census Day, May 16, 2006. [Immigrated between 2001 & 2006] Includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to Census Day, May 16, 2006.
CMA A census metropolitan area must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core CA A census agglomeration must have an urban core population of at least 10,000. CD Group of neighbouring municipalities joined together for the purposes of regional planning and managing common services (such as police or ambulance services). These groupings are established under laws in effect in certain provinces of Canada. For example, a census division might correspond to a county, to a municipalité régionale de comté or a regional district.