• S C Kalichman, B Ramachandran, and S Catz.
• Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
• J Gen Intern Med. 1999 May 1; 14 (5): 267273267-73.

ObjectiveTo test the significance of health literacy relative to other predictors of adherence to treatment for HIV and AIDS.ParticipantsCommunity sample of HIV-seropositive men (n = 138) and women (n = 44) currently taking a triple-drug combination of antiretroviral therapies for HIV infection; 60% were ethnic minorities, and 73% had been diagnosed with AIDS.MeasurementsAn adapted form of the Test of Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA), a comprehensive health and treatment interview that included 2-day recall of treatment adherence and reasons for nonadherence, and measures of substance abuse, social support, emotional distress, and attitudes toward primary care providers.Main ResultsMultiple logistic regression showed that education and health literacy were significant and independent predictors of 2-day treatment adherence after controlling for age, ethnicity, income, HIV symptoms, substance abuse, social support, emotional distress, and attitudes toward primary care providers. Persons of low literacy were more likely to miss treatment doses because of confusion, depression, and desire to cleanse their body than were participants with higher health literacy.ConclusionsInterventions are needed to help persons of low literacy adhere to antiretroviral therapies.

25 keywords...

hide…