Gender Differences in the Associations Between Health Literacy and Medication Adherence in Hypertension: A Population-Based Survey in Heris County, Iran

• Main Authors: Heizomi H, Iraji Z, Vaezi R, Bhalla D, Morisky DE, Nadrian H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-04-01
• Series: Vascular Health and Risk Management
• Subjects: medication adherence; health literacy; hypertension; gender
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/gender-differences-in-the-associations-between-health-literacy-and-med-peer-reviewed-article-VHRM

Haleh Heizomi,1 Zeynab Iraji,2 Rogayeh Vaezi,1 Devender Bhalla,3– 5 Donald E Morisky,6 Haidar Nadrian1,7 1Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 3Pôle Universitaire Euclide, Intergovernmental UN Treaty 49006/49007®, Bangui, Central African Republic; 4Iranian Epilepsy Association®, Tehran, Iran; 5Nepal Interest Group of Epilepsy and Neurology (NiGEN), Kathmandu, Nepal; 6Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 7Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Haidar NadrianDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, Faulty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar-e-Neyshabouri Street, Tabriz, IranTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: We examined the gender-based associations of health literacy (HL) with self-reported medication adherence (MEDA) among patients with primary hypertension (pHTN).Patients and Methods: The subjects were recruited from the general population through all health centers of the Heris county, east Azarbaijan. They were to be adults (30+ years age), with pHTN of any stage, of any gender, and without comorbid illness. All underwent detailed face-to-face interview. We used valid questionnaires for HL and MEDA. Hierarchical regression was done to establish the association between MEDA, socio-demographic variables, and nine HL domains by gender. Other statistical procedures were also done.Results: A total of 300 (48.6% males, mean age: 56.7± 9.3) subjects participated; 43.0% were uneducated, 73.0% had moderate socioeconomic status, 68.0% had poor HL, and 7.0% maintained high adherence. Men were better in reading skills (p=0.002), and accessing (p=0.01) and using (p=0.02) health information, but women were better in health knowledge (p=0.004). The average regression estimate (±standard deviation) between HL and MEDA was 0.37± 0.09, lower among men (0.361± 0.11) than women (0.396± 0.08), p=0.003. Upon hierarchical regression, the association between HL and MEDA was significant for communication and decision-making skills alone among both men (34.5%) and women (40.6%), individually.Conclusion: HL had substantial association with MEDA among those with HTN, for both men and women, particularly the communication and decision-making. With considerations on gender differences, this association should be confirmed through interventional studies to help make HL a formal mitigating strategy for MEDA and other public health goals.Keywords: medication adherence, health literacy, hypertension, gender