Methadone Maintenance Treatment Reduces the Vulnerability of Drug Users on HIV/AIDS in Vietnamese Remote Settings: Assessing the Changes in HIV Knowledge, Perceived Risk, and Testing Uptake after a 12-Month Follow-Up

Tam Minh Thi Nguyen, Bach Xuan Tran, Mercerdes Fleming, Manh Duc Pham, Long Thanh Nguyen, Huong Thi Le, Anh Lan Thi Nguyen, Huong Thi Le, Thang Huu Nguyen, Hoang Van Hai, Xuan Thanh Thi Le, Quan Hoang Vuong, Manh Tung Ho, Dam Van Nhue, Thu Trang Vuong, Ha Ngoc Do, Vu Nguyen, Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Huyen Phuc Do, Phuong Linh Doan, Hai Hong Nguyen, Carl A. Latkin, Cyrus SH Ho and Roger CM Ho
Additional contact information
Tam Minh Thi Nguyen: Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Bach Xuan Tran: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Mercerdes Fleming: School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
Manh Duc Pham: Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Long Thanh Nguyen: Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Huong Thi Le: Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Anh Lan Thi Nguyen: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Huong Thi Le: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thang Huu Nguyen: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hoang Van Hai: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Xuan Thanh Thi Le: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Manh Tung Ho: Institute of Philosophy, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Dam Van Nhue: Faculty of Graduate Studies, National Economics University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thu Trang Vuong: Sciences Po Paris, Campus de Dijon, 21000 Dijon, France
Ha Ngoc Do: Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Vu Nguyen: Department of Neurosurgery Spine-Surgery, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Huong Lan Thi Nguyen: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Danang 550000, Vietnam
Huyen Phuc Do: Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Phuong Linh Doan: Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Hai Hong Nguyen: Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Carl A. Latkin: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Cyrus SH Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Roger CM Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-9

Abstract: Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) program has been considered a medium through which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risks assessment and prevention on drug use/HIV-infected population can be effectively conducted. Studies concerning the implementation of such idea on patients in remote, under-developed areas, however, have been limited. Having the clinics established in three mountainous provinces of Vietnam, this study aimed to evaluate the changes in knowledge of HIV, perceived risk, and HIV testing uptake of the patients. A longitudinal study was conducted at six MMT clinics in three provinces with a pre- and post-assessments among 300 patients. Outcomes of interest were compared between baseline and after 12 months. The magnitude of changes was extrapolated. The proportion of participants reporting that their HIV knowledge was not good fell by 4.4% (61.3% at the baseline vs. 56.8% at 12 months). The significant improvement seen was in the knowledge that needle sharing was a mode of transmission (82.7% vs. 89.6%). Nevertheless, the majority of participants reportedly considered mosquitoes/insect and eating with the HIV-infected patient were the route of transmission at both time points (84.7% vs. 89.1%, 92.2% vs. 93.3%, respectively). This study found a limited improvement in HIV knowledge and testing uptake among MMT patients following a 12-month period. It also highlighted some shortcomings in the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of these patients, in particular, incorrect identification of HIV transmission routes, among patients both at program initiation and follow-up. The findings lent support to the argument for enhancing education and counseling efforts at MMT clinics regarding HIV, as well as for improving access to preventive and health care services through the integration of MMT/HIV services.

Keywords: knowledge; attitudes and practices; Vietnam; methadone maintenance; HIV/AIDS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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