Internet use among low-income persons recently diagnosed with HIV infection

Abstract

Patients are increasingly using the Internet to obtain health-related information, communicate with providers and access research. Use of the Internet to obtain health-related information by low-income patients recently diagnosed with HIV infection has not been examined. In 2005, we surveyed 126 low-income patients diagnosed with HIV infection within the last three years. Eighty-five percent of the patients were<50 years old, 63% were male, 68% were minority race, 27% were Hispanic and 61% acquired HIV through heterosexual intercourse. Twenty-eight percent never completed high school and 74% earned<$15,000 in 2004. While 89% indicated they would like to use the Internet to access information about HIV, 52% had ever used the Internet, 28% had ever used it to obtain health-related information and only 18% had done so at least monthly for the last six months. Two-thirds of the population studied would need instruction on how to use the Internet. In multivariable regression, 2004 income ≥$15,000 predicted monthly Internet use to obtain health-related information. Older age, heterosexual intercourse as HIV risk factor and inadequate health literacy were independent predictors of needing instruction. The low-income population with HIV infection lags behind the general population in Internet access and may not benefit from Internet-dependent advances in health communication, including HIV-related interventions.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sallye M. Stapleton and Erick Villareal for their help in conducting the interviews. Supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health (Grant MH067505), the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (Grant HP10031) and the facilities and resources of the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX.