Changes in Substance Abuse and HIV Risk Behaviors over 12-Month Methadone Maintenance Treatment among Vietnamese Patients in Mountainous Provinces

Bach Xuan Tran, Mercy Fleming, Tam Minh Thi Nguyen, Giang Thu Vu, Quan Hoang Vuong, Tung Ho, Nhue Van Dam, Thu-Trang Vuong, Ha Ngoc Do, Linh Phuong Doan, Carl Latkin, Cyrus SH Ho and Roger CM Ho
Additional contact information
Bach Xuan Tran: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Mercy Fleming: School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Tam Minh Thi Nguyen: Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Giang Thu Vu: Center of Excellence in Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Nhue Van Dam: Faculty of Graduate Studies, National Economics University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thu-Trang Vuong: Sciences Po Paris, Campus de Dijon, Dijon 21000, France
Ha Ngoc Do: Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Linh Phuong Doan: Center of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Carl Latkin: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
Cyrus SH Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Roger CM Ho: Center of Excellence in Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs have been used worldwide to reduce the number of drug users and for HIV prevention; however, evidence of their effectiveness in mountainous areas is limited. This study aimed to identify changes in substance abuse and sexual practices among MMT patients after treatment in three Vietnamese mountainous provinces. A survey on risk behaviors was conducted among 300 drug users in six MMT clinics prior to and following one year of MMT. Cramér’s effect size of changes was extrapolated to justify the magnitude of the intervention’s effectiveness. A generalized estimation equation was used to find the factors associated with respondents’ substance use and sexual risk behavior. While drug-related risk behaviors were significantly reduced, alcohol and sex-related behaviors remained risk factors for HIV in this group. Additionally, condom use was common among participants at both time points, but not among those having sex with sex workers. Socio-economic characteristics of ethnic, education, occupation, as well as drug use history influenced the possibility of engaging in drug use and/or sexual risk behavior following treatment. Further emphasis on managing these among MMT patients is required, potentially by providing integrated services including smoking and drinking counseling and condom use promotion in accordance with MMT.

Keywords: methadone maintenance; HIV; risk behavior; mountainous Vietnam; substance abuse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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