Open AccessBarriers to Heroin Injection Behaviour Change among Clients on Methadone Treatment: Experiences from Public Methadone Clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Author(s) -
Idda H. Mosha,
Alphonce Kelemani,
Mangi J. Ezekiel,
Winfrida Onesmo Akyoo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
european journal of medical and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2593-8339
DOI - 10.24018/ejmed.2022.4.2.1236
Subject(s) - methadone , tanzania , heroin , dar es salaam , medicine , nonprobability sampling , thematic analysis , methadone maintenance , psychiatry , qualitative research , environmental health , population , drug , geography , social science , environmental planning , sociology
Background: It is estimated that there are 50,000 injectable drug users in Tanzania. Tanzania is the first sub-Saharan African country to provide methadone treatment. This study explored barriers to heroin injection behavior change among clients on methadone treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods: This was exploratory cross sectional study. Purposive sampling was used to select ten participants. In in-depth interview guide was used to collect data. Transcribed data were analyzed manually and subjected to thematic analysis.Results: Various factors hinder heroin injecting behaviour change among methadone clients on methadone treatment. Specifically lack of perceived benefits of methadone treatment i hinder behaviour change of injecting heroin when one is enrolled on methadone treatment clinics. Additionally, social environment contributes to failure to change heroin injecting behaviour among clients on methadone treatment.Conclusion: Different measures should be taken by methadone programs and stakeholders to overcome heroin injecting behaviour among clients on methadone.