OBJECTIVETo understand the cognition of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and to explore the factors associated with the coverage of MMT, among the community-based drug users in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

METHODSIn 2008, respondent-driven sampling was applied to recruit community-based drug users in Dongguan. A structured questionnaire was used for a face to face interview. RDSAT was applied to adjust the estimates and the results from bivariate analysis. SPSS was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTSA total of 303 drug users were recruited within a 15-week period. The coverage of MMT program was 8.4% (95%CI: 3.4 - 16.5). 62.9% of the drug users had heard of MMT, of which 80.8% had not been enrolled at MMT mainly for the following reasons: fear of being arrested (25%), being not familiar with the application process (18.9%), no certification of domiciliary register and or ever being in detoxification center (18.7%) and thinking poorly of MMT (18.3%). Multiple logistic regression model indicated that those who were local residents (OR = 22.5, 95%CI: 6.6 - 75.7) and whose effect of MMT being evaluated as positive (OR = 24.1, 95%CI: 6.3 - 91.6) were more likely to be enrolled at the MMT program.

CONCLUSIONCommunity-based drug users had some irrational cognition on MMT program. Dissemination and sharing of information on MMT should be strengthened through media and existing social network among drug users. More concern should be paid to the people who were on migration when making policy to improve the coverage of MMT.