Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics as a function of the HIV status of methadone patients from four hospitals (N = 576).
| Â | Â | HIV-positive | HI- negative | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Â | n = 71 (12%) | n = 505 (88%) | Â |
Age | (years, mean ± SD) | 39.3 ± 7.8 | 40.8 ± 9.4 | 40.6 ± 9.3 |
Age at first heroin use | (years, mean ± SD) | 25.9 ± 6.2 | 27.4 ± 7.5 | 27.2 ± 7.4 |
Gender | Male Female | 67 (90%) 7 (10%) | 438 (87%) 64 (13%) | 503 (87%) 73 (13%) |
Source of treatment fee | Self-paid | 0 (0%) | 330 (65.3%) | 330 (57.3%)** |
| Â | Government sponsor | 71 (100%) | 175 (35.4%) | 246 (42.7%) |
Education | Less than 9 years At least 9 years | 22 (31%) 49 (69%) | 142 (28%) 363 (72%) | 164 (29%) 412 (71%) |
Employed (n = 549)a | No | 30 (44%) | 157 (33%) | 187 (34%) |
| Â | Yes | 38 (56%) | 324 (67%) | 362 (66%) |
HCV (n = 552) a | Negative | 0 (0%) | 38 (8%) | 38 (7%)** |
| Â | Positive | 66 (100%) | 442 (92%) | 514 (93%) |
Morphine at intake (n = 545) a | Negative | 31 (45%) | 145 (31%) | 176 (32%)* |
| Â | Positive | 38 (55%) | 331 (69%) | 369 (68%) |
Morphine at interview (n = 506) a | Negative | 48 (76%) | 294 (66%) | 342 (68%) |
| Â | Positive | 15 (24%) | 149 (34%) | 164 (32%) |
Average methadone dose at intake | (mg, mean ± SD) | 37.5 ± 20.4 | 38.7 ± 20.3 | 38.5 ± 20.3 |
Average methadone dose at interview | (mg, mean ± SD) | 60.4 ± 35.0 | 48.2 ± 30.9 | 49.8 ± 31.7** |
Time from intake to interview | (days, mean ± SD) | 218 ± 164 | 179 ± 146 | 184 ± 149* |