Public Awareness as a Tool for Improving Community Health: A Systematic Review of Communication and Community-Based...

Health literacy influences health behaviors by shaping individuals' ability to access and apply health information. Media and community-based strategies are increasingly used to improve awareness; however, comparative evidence on their effectiveness, particularly in integrated forms, remains limited. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on communication and community engagement interventions and their impact on health literacy, awareness, and behavior. A structured search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 2015 and 2025. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 10 studies were included, comprising randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and campaign evaluations. Data were extracted using a standardized approach and analyzed through narrative synthesis, with interventions categorized as media/digital or educational/community-based. Media and digital interventions were associated with improvements in awareness and risk perception, whereas educational and community-based approaches were linked to sustained behavior change and increased participation. Integrated interventions showed greater overall effectiveness compared to single-component strategies. These findings support the use of combined communication and participatory approaches to achieve both immediate and sustained public health outcomes.