Maternal Schooling and Health Related Language and Literacy Skills in Rural Mexico
Author(s)
Dexter, E. R.; LeVine, S. E.; Velasco, P. M.
Abstract
The relationship between maternal literacy and child health is studied. A theory of literacy is explained wherein different kinds of literacy operate in different contexts; the literacy type associated with decontextualized bureaucratic discourse is required for communication with public health officials. A possible link between maternal decontextualized literacy was investigated (N = 77, aged 16-44) in a small Mexican town with two population groups having contrasting socioeconomic status and educational traditions. Decontextualized language ability was evaluated via a noun-defining task; subjects’ (Ss’) definitions were either decontextualized or reflective of Ss’ context. Health-related language and literacy skills were assessed via listening and reading comprehension tasks and an interview. Results suggest that women acquire in school the decontextualized oral language abilities that contribute to health-related reading and listening ability; oral language ability is found particularly important.
