Sociodemographic Factors Associated With HIV/HCV High-Risk Behaviors Among People Who Use Drugs on Methadone Maintenance Treatment

A 10-Year Observational Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15528360
AuthorsCong Liu (0000-0001-8459-2637, Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Yilei Ma (0009-0009-3401-1561, Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Yi-lei Ma, Xuehan Liu (0000-0001-6195-5837, Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Xue-han Liu, Yanran Duan (0009-0009-8744-7641, Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Yan-ran Duan, Pulin Liu (0000-0002-5948-8624, Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Pu-lin Liu, Xia Wang (0000-0002-5256-0611, Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, corresponding author), Ping Yin (0000-0002-6818-1552, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume12
Pages707257-707257
Publication date2021-09-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.707257
PMID34594250
OpenAlexW3200968458
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited39

Background: Sociodemographic factors have an impact worldwide on the behavior of people who use drugs (PWUD). This study attempts to clarify the sociodemographic factors related to HIV/HCV high-risk behaviors (injection drug use, syringe sharing, and multiple sex partners) among PWUD on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in the long term. Methods: The 13,300 PWUD recruited into the MMT program were followed during 2006-2015. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and HIV/HCV high-risk behaviors. Results: We found that male (vs. female), living alone (vs. living with family or relatives), temporary income, financial support from family/friends, and financial support from social welfare (vs. regular salary) were positively associated with injection drug use. Age of initial drug use was negatively associated with injection drug use and syringe sharing. For both genders, being unmarried (vs. married or in cohabitation), living with friends, living alone (vs. living with family or relatives), temporary income, financial supports from family/friends (vs. regular salary), being employed (vs. unemployed/between jobs) was positively associated. In contrast, age at baseline was negatively associated with having multiple sexual partners for both genders. Ethnic of non-Han (vs. Han) was positively associated with having multiple sexual partners simply for males. Being divorced or widowed (vs. married or cohabitated) was positively associated with having multiple sexual partners merely for females. Conclusion: HIV/HCV high-risk behaviors correlated with certain sociodemographic factors of PWUD receiving MMT. There is a need for improving the well-being, employment, and housing status of PWUD on MMT to reduce their HIV/HCV risk behaviors

Drug · Environmental health · Family support · Heroin · Marital status · Methadone · Methadone maintenance · Observational study · Population · Psychiatry · Salary · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Gerontology · Internal Medicine