Critical health literacy in pandemics: the special case of COVID-19

Abstract

In the current COVID-19 pandemic the active participation of the public is of central importance, however, certain factors found in this new pandemic disease complicates the participation. Addressing these complications needs public health and health promotion experts to understand the role of critical health literacy in a pandemic. We present the case for a definition of critical health literacy in a pandemic, CHL-P. We suggest that CHL-P can help professionals to support individuals and communities as agents for effectively dealing with the unique features of this pandemic.

Keywords: citizen participation; complexity of decision making; uncertainty of knowledge; urgency of action.