Relationship between health literacy, reading comprehension, and risk for sexually transmitted infections in young women

J Adolesc Health. 2010 May;46(5):506-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.11.195. Epub 2010 Jan 13.

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between health literacy, comprehension of sexually transmitted infection information, and sexual behavior in 127 women aged 16-21 years attending a reproductive health clinic. Women with lower health literacy scores demonstrated lower comprehension of written information related to sexually transmitted infections but did not have greater high-risk sexual behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Comprehension*
  • Female
  • Health Literacy*
  • Humans
  • Reading*
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / etiology*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / prevention & control
  • Texas
  • Young Adult