Quality of life among drug users in Jakarta, Indonesia

Methadone maintenance therapy can improve the quality of life of drug users. In this study, we aimed to determine the correlation between individual-level factors and quality of life among drug users in Jakarta, Indonesia. Using a cross-sectional methodology, we assessed the quality of life of 100 respondents undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (retrospectively registered) at the Drug Dependence Hospital, Jakarta, (34 respondents) and the TanjungPriok Public Health Center (66 respondents) in June 2017. The instruments used to measure quality of life were the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine risk factors for poor quality of life. The mean age of the respondents was 35.8 years, and 94% of the respondents were male. The mean quality of life score was 65.8. The lowest mean score (59.4) was in the social relationship domain, and the highest mean score (74.2) was in the psychological domain. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results revealed quality of life to be significantly associated with age, monthly income, physical activity, sleepiness, and self-efficacy. Drug users aged ≥34 years [odds ratio (OR) =4.3], with higher incomes (OR= 3.4), who participated in moderate/high physical activity (OR= 9.5), who were normal sleepers (OR= 4.4), and who had good self-efficacy (OR= 2.9) hada higher quality of life than their counterparts. We recommend that drug users undergoing maintenance therapy should be physically active and address any sleep problems to maintain a good quality of life.