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.
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