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Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Bridging the Gap

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Interests: psychiatric epidemiology; substance use; quantitative methods; LGBT+ health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Health disparities remain a persistent challenge worldwide, with marginalized and underserved populations experiencing disproportionate burdens of disease, limited access to care, and poorer health outcomes. Health literacy—the ability to access, understand, and use health information effectively—is a critical determinant of these disparities. Individuals with limited health literacy often face barriers in navigating complex healthcare systems, adhering to treatment regimens, and engaging in preventive health behaviors. This Special Issue, titled “Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Bridging the Gap”, seeks to advance research that explores the intersection of health literacy and health equity. We invite empirical studies, reviews, and theoretical contributions that examine innovative strategies to enhance health literacy, reduce inequities, and improve health outcomes across diverse populations. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, culturally tailored health communication, digital health literacy, patient education interventions, policy initiatives, and community-based approaches. By bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives, this issue aims to provide actionable insights that can inform practice, policy, and research, ultimately contributing to a more equitable healthcare landscape.

Dr. Andrew Yockey
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • healthcare
  • health literacy
  • health disparities
  • equity
  • health education

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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