Treatment Literacy of HIV/AIDS Patients: A Case Study of Takhli Hospital, Nakhonsawan

Abstract

          The objectives of this study were to measure HIV/AIDS treatment literacy and to study factors related to HIV/AIDS treatment literacy among HIV / AIDS patients treated with antiretroviral drugs within Sun Ruam Jai Clinic at one hospital. This study was a survey research. Data were collected from 324 HIV / AIDS patients admitted to the Clinic. Data collected were then analyzed using descriptive statistics to explain HIV/AIDS treatment literacy as well as Spearman Rank Correlation and Chi-square test to test factors related to HIV/AIDS treatment literacy. The results of this study indicated that overallHIV/AIDS treatment literacy of the respondents was at a high level. HIV/AIDS treatment literacy was related to plasma viral load (p-value = 0.03, r = 0.120). In other words, HIV/AIDS treatment literacy had positive relationship to controlled of viral load.           The findings of this study would be beneficial for AIDS team to know the effects of providing health education to HIV / AIDS patients who are admitted to the Ruam Jai Clinic. It also helps the AIDS team have information for designing a health education program that is appropriate for HIV / AIDS patients at Takhli Hospital using the information obtained from the research. So that people living with HIV / AIDS are aware of proper behavior under the correct knowledge.