Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has been proven to be
effective and cost-effective in treating dependence on opioids. However,
concerns remain that geographical, financial and other hidden barriers may
hinder access to MMT, especially in rural areas where health services are
limited. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with
utilisation of MMT by injection drug users (IDUs) living in Songkhla province.
A cross-sectional study among 159 IDUs in Songkhla province
of southern Thailand was conducted. Participants were recruited using a
snowball technique. Data were collected from July 2013 to January 2014 via
face-to-face interviews.
Around one-forth (24.5%) of participants had difficulties
travelling to MMT clinics because of the long distance, long travelling time
and lack of a private vehicle. Twenty-four percent faced difficulties with the
clinic's opening hours and 28% faced difficulties paying for the cost of
travel. IDUs who utilised the MMT perceived risks of injection drug use
differently compared with those who did not. Younger or Muslim IDUs were less
likely to attend MMT. IDUs who perceived that MMT was effective were more
likely to utilise MMT.
Physical accessibility, affordability and acceptability play
an essential role in MMT utilisation. Developing alternatives that reduce the
travelling time, costs for IDUs and more convenient operation hours to suit
their lifestyles may increase the utilisation of MMT. Intensive consultation
before starting MMT is highly recommended. .
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By:
- 1Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
- 2Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
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