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Table 3 Association between the main components of the socioeconomic status (SES) and adherence to treatment in HIV infected patients.

From: Socioeconomic status (SES) as a determinant of adherence to treatment in HIV infected patients: a systematic review of the literature

First author, Year of publication [Reference Number]

Income

Education

Employment

Main Findings

Laniece I., 2003 [23]

S.S.*

-*

-

Mean adherence among patients who were free of charge was higher than those participating in cost, in a statistically significant level, during 17 months of the study. Mean adherence among patients participating in cost + receiving D4T/ddI/IDV increased when cost participation decreased (during second year of study).

Mohammed H., 2004 [26]

N.S.*

N.S.

-

No SES components were significantly associated with adherence.

Eldred L.J., 1998 [27]

N.S.

N.S.

-

No SES components were significantly associated with adherence.

Kleeberger C.A., 2004 [24]

N.S.

S.S.

N.S.

Having less than a college education was an independent factor significantly associated with lowering adherence from optimal to suboptimal between two consecutive visits of the patient.

Peretti-Watel P., 2005 [28]

S.S.

-

-

Poor living conditions (except for food privation among homosexual men) were identified as an independent factor significantly associated with suboptimal adherence in all of the patients' subgroups.

Fong O.W., 2003 [15]

-

-

S.S.

Having a busy workload was found as an independent factor significantly associated with lower level of adherence.

Kleeberger C.A., 2001 [25]

S.S.

N.S.

N.S.

Annual income <50,000 US$ was identified as an independent factor significantly associated with lower level of adherence.

Goldman D.P., 2002 [16]

-

S.S.

-

Higher level of education was identified as a factor significantly associated with receiving HAART as a regimen and with higher level of adherence when using HAART.

Golin C.E., 2002 [14]

S.S.

S.S.

N.S.

Lower income and lower education were identified as independent factors significantly associated with lower level of adherence.

Singh N., 1999 [3]

N.S.

N.S.

N.S.

No SES components were significantly associated with adherence.

Kalichman S.C., 1999 [29]

N.S.

S.S.

-

Higher level of education and higher health literacy (among those with higher level of education) were identified as independent factors significantly associated with higher level of adherence.

Weiser S., 2003 [30]

S.S.

S.S.

-

Cost as a barrier to treatment was identified as an independent factor significantly associated with lower level of adherence (and gaps in treatment of otherwise would-be adherent patients). Incomplete secondary education was significantly associated with higher level of adherence.

Morse E.V., 1991 [21]

S.S.

N.S.

-

Receiving economic support by a 'significant other' was identified as an independent factor significantly associated with higher level of adherence.

Gebo K.A., 2003 [31]

S.S.

-

-

Running out of money for essentials during the previous 90 days was identified as an independent factor significantly associated with lower level of adherence.

Duong M., 2001 [32]

-

N.S.

N.S.

No SES components were significantly associated with adherence.

Ickovics J.R, 2002 [4]

N.S.

N.S.

N.S.

No SES components were significantly associated with adherence.

Singh N., 1996 [22]

N.S.

N.S.

N.S.

No SES components were significantly associated with adherence.

  1. *S.S. = Statistically significant association found between SES component and adherence to treatment,
  2. N.S. = No significant association found between SES component and adherence to treatment,
  3. (-) = Association between SES component and adherence to treatment not examined