Health Literacy Of Migrants: Environmental Risks To Health

This chapter focuses on the health literacy of migrants regarding environmental risks to health. Health literacy as a concept is first interrogated and conceptualized, positioning it as both a conceptual framework and measuring tool. Assessing health literacy was achieved by using survey questionnaires and conceptual mapping to demonstrate people's perceptions of environmental pollution and how information was accessed about environmental contamination. Basing on the WHO recommendation of measuring health literacy in developing countries, the same parameters were used to measure health literacy in the participating communities. Results from the survey revealed that the migrants were aware of environmental pollution and they had access to information about it. Findings further revealed poor intentionality in seeking health information although general literacy impacted health literacy positively. The conceptual maps revealed that fecal contamination in the communities was perceived to be directly because of inadequate toilet facilities as well as unhygienic practices, which results in the spread of diseases. Most importantly, we notice big gaps in disease knowledge. Although mention is made of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, other predominant diseases associated with fecal contamination such as hepatitis, ascariasis, and gastroenteritis are not stated.