View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

'I can change my life': perceptions and experiences of people who use drugs engaging in medically assisted therapy in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: 'I can change my life': perceptions and experiences of people who use drugs engaging in medically assisted therapy in Kiambu County, Kenya.
Authors: Burtscher, Doris (AUTHOR), Riitho, Winnie (AUTHOR), Kariuki, Morris (AUTHOR), Thiong'o, Angela (AUTHOR), Ayuaya, Tolbert (AUTHOR), Kerschberger, Bernhard (AUTHOR), Atte, Edi (AUTHOR), Verschuere, Jesse (AUTHOR), Tampellini, Livia (AUTHOR), Pellecchia, Umberto (AUTHOR), O'Connell, Lucy (AUTHOR), Ellman, Tom (AUTHOR), Levine, Barrett (AUTHOR), Ngethe, Janet (AUTHOR), Antierens, Annick (AUTHOR)
Source: Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. Feb2026, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p103-112. 10p.
Subjects: Substance abuse treatment, Methadone treatment programs, Health services accessibility, Qualitative research, Focus groups, Statistical significance, Research funding, Judgment sampling, Descriptive statistics, Heroin, Thematic analysis, Harm reduction, Motivation (Psychology), Social skills, Social support, Housing, Data analysis software, Patients' attitudes, Buprenorphine, Social stigma, Employment, Patient participation
Geographic Terms: Kenya
Abstract: Introduction: The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Kiambu People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) project, which started in September 2019, had enrolled 590 PWUD in its Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) program by April 2022. This project provides a one-stop-shop model, offering a comprehensive range of medical and psychosocial services. This study aimed to explore how PWUD navigate from heroin use to MAT enrolment. Methods: The study involved individual, paired and group interviews conducted between August and October 2022. Purposive sampling was applied. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded with NVivo and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Methodological triangulation enhanced interpretation. Results: PWUD faced various challenges to engage in the MAT program. Replacing heroin with MAT, the 'medicine,' was insufficient to ensure meaningful recovery. Engaging in MAT required personal motivation to exit the hotspots that their lives revolve around. Main barriers were coping with changed lifestyles and behavioural patterns, and the need to develop new perspectives on dealing with 'idleness.' Conclusion: The study revealed the complex realities PWUD are confronted with when trying to engage in MAT. MAT programs need to address medical, psychosocial, employment and other structural factors while supporting people to restore their broken social conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 191011781
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: 'I can change my life': perceptions and experiences of people who use drugs engaging in medically assisted therapy in Kiambu County, Kenya.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burtscher%2C+Doris%22">Burtscher, Doris</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Riitho%2C+Winnie%22">Riitho, Winnie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kariuki%2C+Morris%22">Kariuki, Morris</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thiong'o%2C+Angela%22">Thiong'o, Angela</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ayuaya%2C+Tolbert%22">Ayuaya, Tolbert</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kerschberger%2C+Bernhard%22">Kerschberger, Bernhard</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Atte%2C+Edi%22">Atte, Edi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Verschuere%2C+Jesse%22">Verschuere, Jesse</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tampellini%2C+Livia%22">Tampellini, Livia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pellecchia%2C+Umberto%22">Pellecchia, Umberto</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22O'Connell%2C+Lucy%22">O'Connell, Lucy</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ellman%2C+Tom%22">Ellman, Tom</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Levine%2C+Barrett%22">Levine, Barrett</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ngethe%2C+Janet%22">Ngethe, Janet</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Antierens%2C+Annick%22">Antierens, Annick</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Drugs%3A+Education%2C+Prevention+%26+Policy%22">Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p103-112. 10p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Substance+abuse+treatment%22">Substance abuse treatment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Methadone+treatment+programs%22">Methadone treatment programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+services+accessibility%22">Health services accessibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Focus+groups%22">Focus groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+significance%22">Statistical significance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heroin%22">Heroin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Harm+reduction%22">Harm reduction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+skills%22">Social skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Housing%22">Housing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+attitudes%22">Patients' attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Buprenorphine%22">Buprenorphine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+stigma%22">Social stigma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment%22">Employment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+participation%22">Patient participation</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kenya%22">Kenya</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Introduction: The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Kiambu People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) project, which started in September 2019, had enrolled 590 PWUD in its Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) program by April 2022. This project provides a one-stop-shop model, offering a comprehensive range of medical and psychosocial services. This study aimed to explore how PWUD navigate from heroin use to MAT enrolment. Methods: The study involved individual, paired and group interviews conducted between August and October 2022. Purposive sampling was applied. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded with NVivo and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Methodological triangulation enhanced interpretation. Results: PWUD faced various challenges to engage in the MAT program. Replacing heroin with MAT, the 'medicine,' was insufficient to ensure meaningful recovery. Engaging in MAT required personal motivation to exit the hotspots that their lives revolve around. Main barriers were coping with changed lifestyles and behavioural patterns, and the need to develop new perspectives on dealing with 'idleness.' Conclusion: The study revealed the complex realities PWUD are confronted with when trying to engage in MAT. MAT programs need to address medical, psychosocial, employment and other structural factors while supporting people to restore their broken social conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=191011781
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/09687637.2024.2416043
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 103
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse treatment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Methadone treatment programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health services accessibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focus groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical significance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heroin
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Harm reduction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Housing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patients' attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Buprenorphine
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social stigma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kenya
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'I can change my life': perceptions and experiences of people who use drugs engaging in medically assisted therapy in Kiambu County, Kenya.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Burtscher, Doris
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Riitho, Winnie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kariuki, Morris
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Thiong'o, Angela
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ayuaya, Tolbert
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kerschberger, Bernhard
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Atte, Edi
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Verschuere, Jesse
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tampellini, Livia
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pellecchia, Umberto
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: O'Connell, Lucy
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ellman, Tom
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Levine, Barrett
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ngethe, Janet
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Antierens, Annick
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 09687637
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 33
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy
              Type: main
ResultId 1