Six-month follow-up of Iranian women in methadone treatment: drug use, social functioning, crime, and HIV and HCV seroincidence

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the cohort at baseline

Demographic characteristic	Cohort (N = 78)
Mean age [y (SD; R)]	36 (10.16; 18–61)
Ethnic background
Persian [% (n)]	65.4 (51)
Azeri [% (n)]	16.7 (13)
Baloch [% (n)]	15.4 (12)
Marriage
First [% (n)]	41.0 (32)
Second [% (n)]	10.3 (8)
Temporary [% (n)]	3.8 (3)
Able to read and write [% (n)]	78.2 (61)
Occupation in month before registration
Home duties [% (n)]	52.6 (41)
Unemployed [% (n)]	25.6 (20)
Employed [% (n)]	19.2 (15)
Proportion who have ever used opium [% (n)]	69.2 (54)
Mean age at first use of opium [y (SD; R)]	25 (8.39; 13–48)
Proportion who have ever used heroin [% (n)]	87.2 (68)
Mean age at first use of heroin [y (SD; R)]	28 (9.51; 9–56)
Current heroin user at registration [% (n)]	48.7 (38)
Smoking as main route of heroin administration [% (n)]	88.5 (69)
Mean duration of drug problems [y (SD; R)]*	10.5 (9.9; 0–40)

Note:

* Refers to the drug problems measured by the drug dependence questions of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision (see Table 3).

Abbreviations: R, range; SD, standard deviation; y, years.

Table 3 Measurements on the dependence scale of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision (ICD-10), at baseline (n = 40) and follow-up (n = 40)

Measurement	Baseline MMT [% (n)]	Follow-up [% (n)]	P-value
Compulsion to use opioids (“craving”)	85.0 (34)	27.5 (11)	<0.0001
Difficulty controlling use of opioids	87.5 (35)	20.0 (8)	<0.0001
Withdrawal symptoms	82.5 (33)	15.0 (6)	<0.0001
Using opioids to relieve withdrawal symptoms	90.0 (36)	12.5 (5)	<0.0001
Tolerance	70.0 (28)	5.0 (2)	<0.0001
Not varying pattern of use of opioids	52.5 (21)	7.5 (3)	<0.0001
Neglect other pleasures or interests in favor of using opioids	87.5 (35)	25.0 (10)	<0.0001
Experience psychological or physical harm because of opioid use	85.0 (34)	25.0 (10)	<0.0001
Persistent use of opioids despite evidence of harmful consequences	90.0 (36)	22.5 (9)	<0.0001
Score
Total (mean)*	7.3	1.6	<0.0001
SD	2.59	2.76
R	0–9	0–9

Notes:

* Total ICD-10 score is calculated as the sum total of the number of items endorsed out of the nine items listed; a score of 3 or higher indicates a diagnosis of drug dependence.

Abbreviations: MMT, methadone maintenance treatment; R, range; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Drugs ever used by clients (N = 78) and mean age at first use

Drug	Ever used [% (n)]	Mean age at first use (years)
Alcohol	12.8 (10)	21
Cannabis	12.8 (10)	23
Opium	69.2 (54)	25
Heroin	87.2 (68)	28
Stimulants	26.9 (21)	32

Table 4 Improvements in sexual behavior* over time, from baseline (n = 40) to follow-up (n = 40)

Behavior	Baseline [% (n)]	Follow-up [% (n)]	χ^2 (df); P-value
Unsafe sex with a stranger	10.0 (4)	0 (0)	4.2 (1); <0.05
Unsafe sex for drugs	10.0 (4)	0 (0)	4.2 (1); <0.05
Unsafe sex for money	15.0 (6)	0 (0)	6.4 (1); <0.02
Always use a condom with regular partner	20.0 (8)	42.5 (17)	4.7 (1); <0.05

Note:

* Sexual behavior measured using the Opiate Treatment Index quantifying sexual behavior during (a) the month before baseline and (b) the month before follow-up interview.

Abbreviations: χ², chi-square; df, degrees of freedom.

Table 5 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) self-report and seroprevalence

Method	HIV [% (n)]	HCV [% (n)]
Self-report	5 (46)	6 (44)
Serology*	0 (34)	30 (33)
Combined	5 (51)	24 (50)

Note:

* Serology measured using rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Acon Laboratories, Inc, San Diego, CA; InTec Products, Inc, Xiamen, China) on finger-prick blood samples.