Abstract
Background
Prevention of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is propagated by the media and recommended by official public health bodies. However, there are challenges for the adoption of preventive behavioral measures, with health literacy (HL) being a concern that must permeate these health communication actions.
Objective
To discuss the impact that a low LS of the population has on the understanding and adherence to guidelines regarding the prevention of SARS-CoV-2.
Method
This is a reflection that rescues, in the specialized literature, the concept and fundamentals of the LS, the main SARS-CoV-2 prevention guidelines and how to operationalize literate health guidelines.
Results
The literature points out that the low HL of individuals has a negative impact on empowerment and on the operationalization of received health information. There is no point in developing educational actions if the population does not understand and/or does not perceive the importance of adapting to these proposals. The fundamentals of LS are presented in oral, written and media communication guides. There are tools and strategies to better compose an educational message according to the LS.
Conclusion
It is recommended to generalize that the population has inadequate literacy, so that we can make the messages we transmit very clear. This is possible by following the fundamentals of LS.
Keywords:
COVID-19; health literacy; pandemics; health communication