OR13-1 * FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RETENTION IN VIETNAM'S METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (MMT): A 24-MONTH-COHORT STUDY IN HAI PHONG AND HO CHI MINH CITY

Introduction. High coverage and retention in MMT is essential to achieving the goal of reducing the number of those with severe drug dependence in Vietnam and their HIV risks. This study assessed retention and factors associated with in MMT services at 2 years in a pilot Vietnam MMT program. Methods. A 24-month prospective co-hort study was conducted of 965 patients between Jan 2009 and November 2011. Outcomes of interest are measured at baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. Results. The proportion of clients retained at 12 months was 90.5% (873/965) and 81.2% (784/965) at 24 months. Factors associated with increased risk of drop-out were: 1) missed doses consecutively 5 days or more in Hai Phong (HR = 3.97 (1.28-12.35) and in HCMC (HR = 2.28 (1.03-5.03); 2) continued use of drugs in Hai Phong (HR = 2.62 (1.37-5.0) and in Ho Chi Minh (HR = 1,63(1.03-2.58); 3) cohabitating with IDUs in HCMC HR = 2.24 (1.11-4.55). Increasing dosage by 10mg methadone per day reduced drop out risk by 4% in both cities (HR = 0.96, p-0.035). Conclusions. MMT retention in Vietnam is high. Higher Methadone doses, strategies to prevent patient from missing doses and relapse preventions increase retention.