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Table 2 Summary of themes identified in the study

From: Exploring the experiences of clients receiving opioid use disorder treatment at a methadone clinic in Kenya: a qualitative study

Main theme

Category

Impact of opioid use before treatment

Physical Health (Loss of appetite, poor feeding, discomfort from withdrawal symptoms, increased HIV risk)

Self-care neglect (dirty, unkempt)

Financial losses (Job and business loss, spending huge amounts of money on heroin)

Family dysfunction (Separation from spouse, running away from home)

Interaction with law enforcements (Due to stealing and shop lifting)

Learning about methadone treatment

Civil society organizations (outreach activities, use of incentives)

Family and friends who had improved after starting methadone treatment

Experiences at the methadone clinic

Physical health (Improved health, appetite and feeding, improved self-care)

Restoration of broken relationships (Reunion with spouse and other family)

Improved finances (Better saving; no money used to buy drugs; use money for self-improvement)

Improved social relations (Less stigmatization, Contributing to society)

Barriers to optimal methadone treatment

Financial (Requires bus fare to travel to clinic)

Long distance (From home to the clinic takes time)

Strict rules (Frequent discontinuation if a client break treatment contract)

Fixed opening hours (Inaccessibility when needed by clients especially those who work)

Lack of holistic care (Focus only on treatment and doesn’t address socioeconomic needs)