The Association between Living Status Transitions, Behavior Changes and Family Relationship Improvement among Methadone Maintenance Treatment Participants in Guangdong, China

Shaokun Liu, Xia Zou, Xiaoling Huang, Yin Liu, Qian Lu and Li Ling
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Shaokun Liu: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Xia Zou: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Xiaoling Huang: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Yin Liu: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Qian Lu: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Li Ling: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: The quality of family relationships is important for individual and family well-being. Improving family relationships is also an important goal in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Little is known about factors associated with the improvement of family relationships among MMT clients. This study aimed to identify factors associated with family relationship improvement in MMT. We retrospectively analyzed existing data from 2006 to 2014 at 15 MMT clinics in Guangdong, China, including 2171 subjects with 4691 follow-ups. Generalized estimating equations were used to investigate the association between living status transitions, behavior changes and family relationship improvement, with covariates controlled for. Family relationship improvement was found in 23.1% of all follow-up intervals. Participants who began living with family, living on a regular wage, and gained employment were more likely to have improved family relationships. The quality of family relationships also improved among participants who ceased contact with drug-addicted fellows, ceased drug use, and those who were sexually active. These results suggest that improvement in living status, positive changes in drug use, and sexual activity are associated with family relationship improvement and corresponding interventions may be developed to facilitate clients’ recovery.

Keywords: methadone maintenance treatment; family relationship; living status transitions; behavior changes (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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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2019:i:1:p:119-:d:301032

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