Table 1.
Sample characteristics and drug use history of the drug users in Kathmandu Valley ( N = 300)
| No cocktail use | Moderate use | Intensive use | Significance a ( χ 2 , ANOVA) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender |
74.4% x, y |
91.2% x |
94.8% y |
χ2 = 16.6, p < .001 |
| Age, years |
28.1 (±6.7) |
27.6 (±6.2) z |
29.6 (±6.1) z |
F = 3.5, p < .05 |
| Currently in OST |
18.6% |
20.6% |
21.3% |
χ2 = 0.1, p = .928 |
| Education level |
|
|
|
|
| Primary schoolb |
18.6% y |
23.5% |
32.9% y |
χ2 = 12.4, p < .05 |
| Secondary school |
32.6% y |
48.0% |
43.2% y |
|
| High school |
48.8% y |
28.4% |
23.9% y |
|
| Stable living situation |
100.0% |
96.1% |
98.7% |
χ2 = 3.2, p = .202 |
| Employment |
|
|
|
|
| Working/student |
60.5% |
56.9% |
57.4% |
χ2 = 2.8, p = .593 |
| Unemployed |
25.6% |
36.3% |
32.9% |
|
| Household/other |
14.0% |
6.9% |
9.7% |
|
| Ever injected drugs |
67.4% x, y |
100.0% x |
100.0% y |
χ2 = 87.8, p < .001 |
| Length of injecting drug use, years |
8.5 (±6.6) |
8.4 (±5.5) |
10.1 (±6.1) |
F = 2.9, p = .057 |
| Length of cocktail use, yearsc |
7.8 (±6.5) |
8.0 (±5.0) |
9.2 (±5.6) |
F = 1.7, p = .191 |
| Length of heroin use, years |
9.9 (±6.0) |
11.0 (±6.3) |
12.2 (±6.2) |
F = 2.4, p = .090 |
| Serious health problems |
4.7% x, y |
20.6% x |
23.2% y |
χ2 = 7.4, p < .05 |
| HIV positive (among tested) |
26.9% |
24.2% |
38.5% |
χ2 = 4.5, p = .108 |
| HCV positive (among tested) |
38.9% |
58.3% |
63.9% |
χ2 = 3.8, p = .147 |
| Co-infection |
18.6% y |
31.4% z |
47.7% y, z |
χ2 = 15.0, p < .001 |
| Physical health (MAP score, 0–4) |
1.4 (±0.4) |
1.4 (±0.4) |
1.3 (±0.5) |
F = 1.5, p = .217 |
| Mental health (MAP score, 0–4) |
1.7 (±0.7) |
1.7 (±0.7) z |
2.0 (±0.8) z |
F = 4.6, p < .05 |
| N | 43 | 102 | 155 |
aThe characters x, y and z indicate significant differences between groups according to post hoc statistical tests. bPrimary school or lower. cIn the group without cocktail use, the number of years is related to former periods of concurrent use of opioids, benzodiazepines and antihistamines and/or other drugs.