Increasing refugee health literacy through English language instruction in Allegheny County

Allegheny County has seen a significant increase in the number of refugees resettling to the region in the last decade. In addition to being victims of persecution in their home countries leading to their refugee status, refugees are also the victims of significant mental and physical health disparities here in the United States. Reducing and ultimately eliminating these disparities is a matter of public health significance both in Allegheny County and elsewhere, but addressing these disparities requires that we also address the low levels of health literacy found among refugee populations. This study examines the health problems facing refugees in Allegheny County, and investigates the feasibility of incorporating health education curriculum into English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at one of the region’s two largest providers of English language instruction. The results describe a host of health issues of importance to refugees in the County, some of which are already being addressed through the provider’s ESL classes, leading to the development of self-contained curriculum units to address several requested health topics. A feasibility study of one of the lessons finds that delivery of health information in this format is feasible and well-received, indicating the method holds public health importance to improve health literacy amongst Pittsburgh’s refugee population