Health literacy of adolescents in the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the scientific production on health literacy (HL) of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: an integrative review, in the MEDLINE, LILACS, CINAHL and Web of Science databases, between March 2020 and August 2021. Original articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese were included. RESULTS: of the 65 studies found in the search, eight were included for analysis, with no publication in Brazil, with five publications in 2021, predominantly in English (n=7) and all classified with level of evidence VI. Of the instruments used, eHealth literacy was the most applied instrument (n=2). Television, family and the internet were identified as the main sources of health information during the pandemic. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS the literature has indicated that HL can interfere with adolescents' decision making and that a low HL can lead to decisions and physical and mental exposure actions of adolescents.