Enhancing health literacy outreach: A key role for medical libraries in achieving sustainable development goal 3

Background: The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goal-3 (SDG-3) concerns achieving good health and well-being for everyone (at all ages) by 2030. Objectives: Examined the role of medical library staff as mediators of health literacy and health outcomes towards the achievement of SDG 3 in Ghana. Methods: Eight professional librarians from four medical libraries affiliated with four public universities participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews aligned with the study objectives. The health literacy framework proposed by Squiers et al. (The health literacy skills framework, Journal of Health Communication, 17 (Suppl. 3), 30–54, 2012) was adopted for this study. Results: Medical school libraries provided timely and relevant information to their patrons as well as health literacy support, but most of their efforts were directed towards their students, instructors, and health professionals, not the general public. Discussion: The intention of SDG3 for good health and wellbeing for all is only partially met, as support for health literacy among patients and the public is mostly indirect. Medical libraries in Ghana need to develop more collaborations and outreach activities for health literacy. Conclusion: The medical library staff successfully support health professionals, faculty, and students, but their mediator role in health literacy requires more collaboration with community representatives.