Behavior and Attitude about Self-use of Marijuana Use Among HIV Patients at Rajavithi Hospital

Abstract

Background: Thailand has announced the use of the Narcotic Act, Version 7, which restricts access to medical marijuana to specific medical conditions. These conditions include nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, difficult-to-treat epilepsy in children, treatment-resistant seizures, muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis, nerve pain not responding to other treatments, loss of appetite in AIDS patients with weight loss, to enhancement quality of life for individuals receiving palliative care. Currently, there is no available information regarding the use of marijuana in HIV/AIDS patients in Thailand. Objective: To study self-use of marijuana to relieve symptoms in patients with HIV infection. Methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was employed to study patients diagnosed with HIV infection at Rajavithi Hospital's Tropical Disease Department from April to August 2023. A total of 851 participants were randomly sampled, and written consent was obtained before inclusion. Data collection utilized a self-reported questionnaire, with subsequent analysis involving descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Results: The majority of patients were male, middle age, and held a bachelor's degree as their highest level of education. Most were employed in private companies with a monthly income below 30,000 baht. The study found that 10% of HIV patients used marijuana  products, with 35% predominantly using marijuana-infused beverages. Marijuana was primarily sourced through cultivation (37%) and acquired information through the internet (75%). The reasons for marijuana use include alleviate insomnia (78.18%), and stimulate appetite (37.27%) .Usage was mainly occasional. Attitudes towards marijuana were largely positive, with an average attitude score of 3.75±0.49. Education level, occupation, and attitude significantly influenced the medical marijuana use among HIV patients. Conclusion: Approximately 10% of HIV patients in the study used medical marijuana, It’s used for insomia, muscle pain. Attitudes toward its use were generally favorable, influenced by education level, occupation, and attitude.