Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Use among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Vietnam

Highlights

• Amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use was relatively common among men who have sex with men (MSM) from two cities in Vietnam.
• One fifth of recent methamphetamine users were categorized as high-risk users.
• Correlates of drug use included societal, community and individual-level factors.
• Interventions should target men involved in sex work and sexually adventurous men.

Introduction

Amphetamine-type-stimulants (ATS) use is associated with HIV-related sexual risk behaviours and is an emergent problem among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam. The purpose of this study is to describe ATS use patterns and understand the correlates of recent methamphetamine use from a socio-ecological perspective.

Methods

From September through December, 2014, 622 MSM were recruited in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We collected information on demographic characteristics, HIV testing behaviours, use of ATS and other recreational drugs (ever and recently), sexual sensation seeking, depressive mood, experienced and internalized stigma related to homosexuality, social involvement with other MSM, and perceptions of ATS use in MSM networks. We performed descriptive statistics to describe ATS use patterns and multivariate logistic regression to establish independent correlates of recent methamphetamine use.

Results

Nearly one-third (30.4%) had ever used ATS, including 23.6% who had used methamphetamine, 4.3% who had used amphetamine (‘speed’) and 20.9% who had used ecstasy. 20.1% and 11.9% had ever used methamphetamine and ecstasy, respectively, during sex. Eighteen percent of methamphetamine users were classified as engaged in high-risk use. Recent methamphetamine use (in the last 3 months) was associated with participants perceiving more methamphetamine use in their MSM network, recent sex work, and higher sexual sensation seeking scores.

Conclusions

ATS use is relatively prevalent among MSM sampled in Vietnam's main cities. Interventions to address methamphetamine are warranted for MSM in Vietnam. Methamphetamine treatments are needed for high-risk users.

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By:  Nga Thi Thu Vu, Martin Holt, Huong Thi Thu Phan, Huong Thi Le, Lan Thi La, Gioi Minh Tran, Tung Thanh Doan, Trang Nhu Nguyen Nguyen, John de Wit

Affiliations

Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney NSW Australia 2032

Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, No 1 Ton That Tung Street, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Correspondence

Corresponding author. Postal Address: CSRH, UNSW Australia, Sydney NSW Australia 2032, Tel.: +61 2 9385 6776

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