Prevalence and network-characteristics of risky sexual behaviors among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment at clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province

Abstract

To investigate the risky sexual behaviors, associated factors and characteristics of sexual network among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) at the clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Data was collected through questionnaire and from the national unified MMT system. Urine was collected to test heroin, methamphetamine, 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine. Blood was collected to test infections on HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis. Totally, 362 clients were recruited. Most of the clients were male (88.7%), 31-40 year-olds (54.5%), married (61.6%) and having received junior high school education (56.6%). 85.1% of them received urine test with 82(26.6%)positive for heroin, 21 (6.8%) positive for methamphetamine, 19(6.2%) positive for MDMA and none for ketamine. 77.1% of them received blood test, and prevalence rates for HIV, HCV and syphilis were 1.1% , 36.7% and 3.6% . 19.5% of the clients who had sex in the past 6 months. Factors as having multiple sexual partners and positive for club drugs were under higher risk. Sexual networking seemed to be loose, linear and acyclic among this population but overlapping with the drug-using network. Effective and targeted interventions should be taken among the MMT clients since continuing drug use and HIV/STD related sexual behavior were found common in them, suggesting there was a risk of HIV/STD transmission in this population.