Determinants of Opioid Use among Adult Males in Myanmar: A Case-Control Study

Background: Opioid abuse affects not only user's health but also productivity, security, and health-care costs. Better understanding about the risk factors of opioid use is in need in Myanmar as the country has heavy burdens of opioid abuse. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify the determinants of opioid use among adult males in Kachin State, Myanmar. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Myitkyina city of Kachin State in August 2019. The ratio of case and control was 1:3, of which there were 109 opioid users and 327 controls who never used illicit drugs. Inclusion criteria for the participants were males of 18 years' old or above. Cases were recruited with the help of a nongovernmental organization, whereas controls were randomly selected from household registration of local government. Data were collected using face-to-face structured questionnaire interview. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify the determinants. Results: The factors associated with opioids use among males in Kachin state had peers who used opioids (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 21.67, 95% confident interval [CI]: 10.41-45.09), smoking cigarette or cheroot (AOR = 7.5, 95% CI: 4.03-13.94), aged 25 years or older (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.73-6.95), and were non-Kachin ethnic (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.36-4.64). Conclusion: The study indicated that peers had the strongest influence on opioid use, followed by smoking habits as well as age and ethnicity. Effective prevention programs are essential for vulnerable groups.