Health literacy and antiretroviral adherence among HIV-infected adolescents

Abstract Objective This study investigates HIV positive adolescents’ health literacy and whether factors associated with health literacy in HIV-positive adults are associated with health literacy among HIV-positive adolescents. Methods Adolescents in this study were behaviorally and perinatally HIV-infected youth ( n = 186) from five U.S. cities. Participants had a mean age of 20.5, and 49.5% were male. Results and conclusions Contrary to findings for adult HIV-positive patients, among adolescents health literacy was not significantly associated with: medication adherence adjusting for age and education level; viral load; or self-efficacy to adhere to medication regimens. The only significant association was of health literacy with medical care received. Practice implications Practice implications are discussed.