A retrospective cohort study to assess the dropout rates and its predictors in Ho Chi Minh City’s methadone maintenance program using a stringent criterion

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives

The current study aimed to assess the dropout rates and factors that impact the retention of the MMT program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Methods

This study aimed to investigate the drop-out rate and predictors of drop-out in Ho Chi Minh City’s MMT clinics. A total of 1069 patients admitted in eight MMT clinics, entered the study and their drop-out rates were examined for one and a half years. The patients’ data were extracted from their medical records using checklists. We used a stringent criterion to define treatment adherence. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used.

Results

The MMT dropout rates at 1 month, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 18 months were 1%, 10.7%, 16.1%, 22.3%, and 38.9%, respectively. Higher age at time of enrolment in the program (p<.001), clinic location (p<.001), married marital status (p<.05), higher educational qualification p<.04), history of morphine use (p<.01), greater total duration of substance use (p< .001), smoking while on MMT (p<.01), and a higher maintenance dose of methadone (p<.01) were found to reduce the risk of dropping out.                             

Conclusion

The findings of the study suggested relatively low dropout rates at the end of 18 months. 

KEYWORDS:

• Retention
• methadone
• maintenance
• drop-out
• Vietnam

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all patients who participated in this study, as well as the support from MMT clinics that made this research possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Ho Chi Minh City Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment.