National Adult Literacy Database

Today’s parents are faced with a bewildering amount of information on how to promote the health of their young children. Often, the messages they receive are contradictory, the authors of this paper point out. For instance, messages about safety may conflict with advice on promoting vigorous outdoor activity.

Without reliable tools to access and comprehend this information, parents’ ability to promote the health of their young children is compromised, they note. The issue of mixed messaging in health information will likely remain, especially with the proliferation of health advice over the internet.

The authors point to a possible solution, contained in a Health Canada report that calls for a concerted effort by all levels of government, health care experts, and community organizations to develop and fund a five-year national, evidence-based strategy for injury prevention in children and youth.