High-risk behaviours and concomitant medical illnesses among patients at Methadone Maintenance Therapy Clinic, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Malaysia

Musa, Ramli and Mat Zin, Nora and Abu Bakar, Ahmad Zafri and Mohamed Rozali, Junid and Khan, Umeed Ali and Mohamad Ismail, Maung Ko @ Hajee (2009) High-risk behaviours and concomitant medical illnesses among patients at Methadone Maintenance Therapy Clinic, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Malaysia. Malaysian Family Physician, 4 (3). pp. 77-82. ISSN 1985-2274 (O), 1985-207X (P)

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Abstract

Background: High prevalence of high-risk behaviours and concurrent medical illnesses among opioid drug users would influence the outcome of Methadone Maintenance Programme. It would also require a special medical attention to contain these issues. Objectives: This study explored patients’ characteristics and their high-risk behaviours in order to understand more about opioid dependent users in Malaysia. Methods: A total of 172 patient case notes at Methadone Clinic Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) were retrieved for relevant data. Results: Many of the patients were engaged in high-risk behaviours such as needle sharing, unsafe sex and criminal activities. A large number of the subjects had contracted blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis infections. Conclusions: Education on the issue of medical and psychosocial complications related to high risk behaviours is essential. Medical professionals dealing with this group have to pay attention and update their knowledge on the medical issue.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	5818/4067
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Methadone therapy, opioid dependence, high-risk behaviours
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Psychiatry
Depositing User:	Professor Ramli Musa
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2011 11:39
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2013 09:17
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/4067

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