Is the promise of methadone Kenya’s solution to managing HIV and addiction? A mixed-method mathematical modelling and qualitative study

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Is the promise of methadone Kenya’s solution to managing HIV and addiction? A mixed-method mathematical modelling and qualitative study

6 March 2017
Community Action on Harm Reduction (CAHR)

Kenya is experiencing an HIV epidemic among people who inject drugs, with HIV prevalence recently estimated at 18.3%, and 44% for women.

Methadone, a globally evidenced intervention, is being introduced as part of developing comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment. Methadone acts as a substitute for opiates like heroin (so is called opioid substitution therapy or OST). Methadone works to reduce HIV-related risk from injecting drug use and support engagement in HIV treatment.

There is little experience of methadone in contexts like Kenya. We used modelling and qualitative interviews to assess the potential impact of methadone as a HIV prevention intervention in Kenya. These findings are essential to shape future strategy.

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