Evaluation of health literacy among men who have sex with men with living HIV

OOBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate health literacy among men who have sex with men with living HIV and factors associated with adequate health literacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional survey. Participants were 203 HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). Participants were evaluated on health literacy and associated factors. RESULTS: Participants were aged an average 34.54 ± 10.18 years, and 79.2% had a bachelor’s degree or higher education level. Most participants (62.5%) had 15,001-25,000 Thai baht monthly income. 45.8 % of participants had been diagnosed with HIV infection for over 1 year but less than 5 years. Most participants (88.2%) had a CD4 count of more than 200 cells/cm3, and more participants (70.4%) had a viral load of less than 20 copies/ml. The majority (66%) had adequate health literacy, and an average score was 15.41. The level of health literacy was significantly associated with education, duration of HIV infection, CD4 count, viral load, and cryptococcosis (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Almost all men who have sex with men have adequate health literacy. Education, duration of HIV infection, CD4 count, viral load, and cryptococcosis were associated with level of health literacy.