Cross-Sectional Assessments of Participants’ Characteristics & Loss To Follow-Up in the First Opioid Substitution Therapy Pilot Program in Kabul, Afghanistan

Below: Participants enrolled and surveyed in the OSTPP between February 2010 and May 2012. Eighty-three participants were initially enrolled and surveyed by MdM, 38 dropped-out, and 45 were retained. After 18 months, 57 clients were surveyed by JHU

Two cross-sectional surveys evaluated participants attending the OSTPP at baseline (n = 83) and 18 months after (n = 57). Questionnaires assessed socio-demographic, drug use behavior, and general and mental health factors. After 18 months, 57 participants remained in the OSTPP. Participants lost to follow-up were younger (p < 0.01) and married (p < 0.01) and had no family contact (p < 0.01). Participants at 18 months reported no criminal activity in the last month and only two (3.5 %) reported heroin use in the last month, constituting significant decreases from baseline.

While preliminary results are promising, further evaluation is needed to determine the feasibility of implementing OSTPP in this setting and effectiveness in reducing injection risk behaviors in Afghanistan.

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