Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40029902›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Barriers to implementing contingency management at a methadone treatment clinic: A qualitative study at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania.

Paul S Lawala, Christopher F Akiba, Damali L Kabwali, Liness A Ndelwa, Betuna E Mwamboneke, Albino Kalolo

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Paul S LawalaMirembe National Mental Health Hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1276-9872
Christopher F AkibaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Damali L KabwaliWalter Reed program Tanzania, Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Liness A NdelwaMbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Betuna E MwambonekeMbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Albino KaloloDepartment of Public Health, St Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Morogoro, Tanzania.

Funding

Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership (SHARP) for Mental Health Capacity Building - Scale-Up ComponentU19MH113202 · NIMH · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI HOSSEINIPOUR, MINA CHRISTINE, PENCE, BRIAN W · 2017 to 2021
$4.1M
NIMH NIH HHS U19 MH113202
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionContingency management in addiction behaviors has been widely applied in high income settings. Contingency management entails modification of behavior via the control or manipulation of consequences (contingencies) to the behavior. While a need exists for contingency management in low- and middle- income settings, specifically those of the sub-Saharan Africa region, uptake is low relative to high income settings. This study assessed barriers to implementation of contingency management for methadone treatment clients at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Tanzania.

methodsThis study employed a qualitative design and was conducted at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH). Guided by the consolidated framework of implementation research (CFIR), data were collected from two sources 1) ten purposively selected key informants (health care workers, methadone treatment clients and hospital leaders) who participated in in-depth interviews, and 2) a mini focus group discussion with five participants (two health care providers, two hospital leaders and one leader of methadone treatment clients). We developed semi-structured guides for in-depth interviews and the mini focus group to explore the key barriers. We analyzed the collected data using thematic analysis.

resultsReported barriers revolved around the following key themes: lack of awareness and knowledge regarding contingency management, financial constraints to support implementation, trust between clients and health care workers, Health care workers work load, client behaviors and clinic culture. Participants mentioned lack of awareness and knowledge more frequently compared to other themes.

conclusionIn the context of specialized outpatient care in Tanzania, contingency management faces a variety of barriers. Deliberate efforts to establish and sustain contingency management in these settings require strategies that attend to the identified barriers. If the barriers are overcome, contingency management implementation and sustainment may follow and ultimately improve methadone related health outcome for patients.

Indexed as

MethadoneOpiate Substitution TreatmentAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHealth PersonnelHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchTanzaniaTertiary Care CentersMethadone

Identifiers

PMID40029902
PMCPMC11875383

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