A case study of the health literacy of a criminalized woman

Authors

Lorie Donelle, The University of Western OntarioFollow
Jodi Hall, Fanshawe College
Sarah Benbow, The University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Journal

International Journal of Health Promotion and Education

Volume

53

Issue

4

First Page

192

Last Page

203

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1080/14635240.2014.990640

Abstract

Research evidence substantiates that the lives of criminalized women are largely characterized by poverty, abuse, homelessness, co-morbidities, low literacy, and limited education, with the predominant characterization of criminalized women as under-educated, disinterested, and/or incapable of engaging in health-promoting self-care. Using a case study design, the purpose of this study was to develop a greater understanding of the health promotion activities and health literacy capabilities of a woman serving an open custody sentence, in Ontario, Canada whose health literacy capabilities contrast with the predominant narrative of criminalized women. Findings from this research raise critical questions concerning the 'health literacy' of the healthcare system itself, wherein health literacy discussions have traditionally targeted how the activities of individual clients promote or inhibit health, while health professionals and the healthcare system have gone largely unchallenged.