Methadone Maintenance Treatment Promotes Referral and Uptake of HIV Testing and Counselling Services amongst Drug Users and Their Partners
BACKGROUND:
Methadone
maintenance treatment (MMT) reduces HIV risk behaviors and improves access to
HIV-related services among drug users. In this study, we assessed the uptake
and willingness of MMT patients to refer HIV testing and counseling (HTC)
service to their sexual partners and relatives.
METHODS:
Health
status, HIV-related risk behaviors, and HTC uptake and referrals of 1,016 MMT
patients in Hanoi and Nam Dinh were investigated. Willingness to pay (WTP) for
HTC was elicited using a contingent valuation technique. Interval and logistic
regression models were employed to determine associated factors.
RESULTS:
Most of
the patients (94.2%) had received HTC, 6.6 times on average. The proportion of
respondents willing to refer their partners, their relatives and to be
voluntary peer educators was 45.7%, 35.3%, and 33.3%, respectively. Attending
MMT integrated with HTC was a facilitative factor for HTC uptake, greater WTP,
and volunteering as peer educators. Older age, higher education and income, and
HIV positive status were positively related to willingness to refer partners or
relatives, while having health problems (mobility, usual care, pain/discomfort)
was associated with lower likelihood of referring others or being a volunteer.
Over 90% patients were willing to pay an average of US $17.9 for HTC service.
CONCLUSION:
The
results highlighted the potential role of MMT patients as referrers to HTC and
voluntary peer educators. Integrating HIV testing with MMT services and
applying users' fee are potential strategies to mobilize resources and
encourage HIV testing among MMT patients and their partners.
Below: Sexual behaviors among respondents
- 1Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
- 2Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
- 3School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
- 4Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
- 5Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam.
- 6Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.
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