Health literacy of the Deaf community
A scoping review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22965409 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kang Suen Goh (Monash University Malaysia), Ryan Chun Chien Yau (Monash University Malaysia), Thisari Madhavee Dharmapriya (Heidelberg University), Uma Devi Palanisamy (0000-0002-8615-8241, Monash University Malaysia), Sabrina Anne Jacob (0000-0001-8012-7789, Monash University Malaysia) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-15 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1081-4159 • E-ISSN: 1465-7325 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/jdsade/enag017 |
| PMID | 42139001 |
| OpenAlex | W7161279252 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 147 |
This scoping review examined health literacy among Deaf populations and identified gaps in current evidence. A systemic search of PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane was conducted from database inception to December 31, 2024. English-language quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies reporting from the perspective of Deaf individuals of any age were included, alongside studies evaluating educational interventions. Data were charted using a standardized extraction framework and analysed thematically. Fifty-seven studies from 14 countries met the inclusion criteria. Four themes emerged: health literacy of Deaf people, factors affecting the health literacy of Deaf people, source of health information, and impact of interventions on health literacy levels. Overall, Deaf people demonstrated poorer health literacy levels than hearing populations, largely due to communication barriers and inaccessible health information. While educational interventions improved knowledge, evidence on their sustained impact remains limited. Findings underscore the need for culturally-competent, sign-language-accessible health education to reduce health inequities.
Health education · Health literacy · Health promotion · Inclusion (mineral) · Literacy · MEDLINE · Psychological intervention · Public health · Hand Gesture Recognition Systems · Hearing Impairment and Communication · Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare
Deaf Epistemology
Health literacy is associated with health behaviour and self-reported health
Health literacy and adolescents
Language acquisition for deaf children
Mental health of deaf people
The Contribution of Health Literacy to Disparities in Self-Rated Health Status and Preventive Health Behaviors in Older Adults
What is the meaning of health literacy? A systematic review and qualitative synthesis
Oral diseases
The meaning and the measure of health literacy
Dementia prevention, intervention, and care
Low Health Literacy and Health Outcomes
Health literacy and public health
Health Promotion Glossary
Critical health literacy in American deaf college students
Health Care Needs of Deaf Signers
What are Deaf sign language users’ experiences as patients in healthcare services? A scoping review
The Culture of the Deaf
Barriers to HIV/Aids knowledge and prevention among deaf and hard of hearing people
Knowledge and attitudes about Aids among deaf and hard of hearing persons
The Impact of a Dialogic Reading Program on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Kindergarten and Early Primary School-Aged Students in Hong Kong
Allegations of Unlawful Discrimination in Education
Impact of the Visual Performance Reinforcement Technique on Oral Hygiene Knowledge and Practices, Gingival Health, and Plaque Control in Hearing- and Speech-Impaired Adolescents
Relationship between Health Literacy, Health-Related Behaviors and Health Status
HIV/Aids knowledge among adolescent sign-language users in South Africa
Mental Health Literacy
Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices of Covid-19 among deaf persons in the Greater Accra region of Ghana
Improving the Deaf community's access to prostate and testicular cancer information
Health promotion via SMS improves hypertension knowledge for deaf South Africans
Prevalence of Anxiety or Depression Diagnosis in Deaf Adults
Deaf Adolescents’ Learning of Cardiovascular Health Information
Factors Associated With Social Interactions Between Deaf Children and Their Hearing Peers
Introducing the Ready Study
Oral Health Care Knowledge and Practices of a Group of Deaf Adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria
Understanding dementia
Opportunity Blocked”
The relationship of patient reading ability to self-reported health and use of health services
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Scoping studies
Exploring patient involvement in healthcare decision making across different education and functional health literacy groups
The evolving concept of health literacy
Exploring misinformation of family planning practices and methods among deaf people in Ghana
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |