Adopting a health equity lens to advance Health Literacy in South Tyrol (Italy) within the framework of the Local Prevention Plan
1
Department of Prevention - Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, South Tyrolean Healthcare Services, Bressanone/Brixen (BZ), Italy
2
Staff for Project Management, South Tyrolean Healthcare Services, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
3
Office for Prevention and Health Promotion, Automous Province of Bolzano/Bozen, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
4
Health Observatory, Automous Province of Bolzano/Bozen, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
5
SER.D, South Tyrolean Healthcare Services, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
6
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, South Tyrolean Healthcare Services, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
7
Antimicrobial Stewardship Unit - Division Infectious Diseases, South Tyrolean Healthcare Services, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
8
Department of Prevention, South Tyrolean Healthcare Services, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Background The Italian National Prevention Plan (NPP) serves as an essential operational tool for planning cross-cutting strategies at the national level, which have to be scaled up locally. It is renewed every five years to adapt to new health priorities and includes the implementation of equity-oriented initiatives through the adoption of the Health Equity Audit (HEA) cycle. An equity-based approach enables individuals to achieve their full health potential and should be embedded in public health strategies, regardless of a country's income level. Health literacy (HL) plays a crucial role in this process. The implementation of equity-oriented initiatives to strengthen HL can contribute to the achievement of better health outcomes. In South Tyrol, the local plan has been developed in alignment with the NPP. This abstract outlines local strategies, tools, outcomes, and future perspectives related to the co-creation of equity-oriented initiatives in a high-income territory, aimed at enhancing HL. Methods The HEA cycle has been systematically applied to design, implement, and monitor the initiatives, adopting a life-course, evidence-based, and integrated approach. Results Over the past five years, a multisectoral working group was established to strengthen the local governance. Twelve targeted equity-oriented interventions have been implemented, addressing key areas such as health-promoting schools, hygiene best practices in the local correctional facility, and antimicrobial resistance. A new model for implementing communication strategies, continuing education, and projects design aimed at enhancing HL has been established to guide the development of the next Prevention Plan 2027-2031. Conclusion Equity-oriented interventions have been successfully integrated into the local Prevention Plan 2021-2025 through actions across multiple settings, in alignment with the NPP 2020-2025, with the additional aim of improving HL. Strengthened local governance has enabled the achievement of the goals of this Plan and laid the groundwork for the strategic development of the upcoming local Plan.
Background The Italian National Prevention Plan (NPP) serves as an essential operational tool for planning cross-cutting strategies at the national level, which have to be scaled up locally. It is renewed every five years to adapt to new health priorities and includes the implementation of equity-oriented initiatives through the adoption of the Health Equity Audit (HEA) cycle. An equity-based approach enables individuals to achieve their full health potential and should be embedded in public health strategies, regardless of a country's income level. Health literacy (HL) plays a crucial role in this process. The implementation of equity-oriented initiatives to strengthen HL can contribute to the achievement of better health outcomes. In South Tyrol, the local plan has been developed in alignment with the NPP. This abstract outlines local strategies, tools, outcomes, and future perspectives related to the co-creation of equity-oriented initiatives in a high-income territory, aimed at enhancing HL. Methods The HEA cycle has been systematically applied to design, implement, and monitor the initiatives, adopting a life-course, evidence-based, and integrated approach. Results Over the past five years, a multisectoral working group was established to strengthen the local governance. Twelve targeted equity-oriented interventions have been implemented, addressing key areas such as health-promoting schools, hygiene best practices in the local correctional facility, and antimicrobial resistance. A new model for implementing communication strategies, continuing education, and projects design aimed at enhancing HL has been established to guide the development of the next Prevention Plan 2027-2031. Conclusion Equity-oriented interventions have been successfully integrated into the local Prevention Plan 2021-2025 through actions across multiple settings, in alignment with the NPP 2020-2025, with the additional aim of improving HL. Strengthened local governance has enabled the achievement of the goals of this Plan and laid the groundwork for the strategic development of the upcoming local Plan.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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