Which population groups are at higher risk of low health literacy?

• A. General population equally affected.
• B. Only older adults with chronic diseases.
• C. CALD populations and those with lower education levels.
• D. People living in major cities.

Answer: (C)

Health literacy describes how well a person can obtain, understand, evaluate, and use health information to make appropriate health decisions. The groups at higher risk are CALD populations and people with lower education levels because both factors directly affect the ability to comprehend and act on health information. Culturally and linguistically diverse communities often face language barriers and differences in health beliefs, which can make medical terminology, instructions, and system navigation harder to grasp without interpreters or culturally tailored materials. People with lower education typically have lower reading and numeracy skills, making it more challenging to interpret prescription labels, risk explanations, dosage schedules, and appointment notes, and to communicate effectively with clinicians.

While some individuals in the general population may experience limited health literacy, the combination of language/cultural barriers and lower educational attainment identifies groups with a consistently higher risk. Older adults or those in major cities aren’t the best fit for this question because they describe broader categories rather than the specific factors that elevate risk in terms of health literacy.