Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa
Abstract Background Provision of aftercare services for persons with substance use disorders (PWSUD) within a rural context is typically met with various intersecting challenges, including unclear policy implications and lack of resources. In the South African context, service providers are expected...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00471-5 |
| _version_ | 1828182836124844032 |
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| author | December Mandlenkosi Mpanza Pragashnie Govender Anna Voce |
| author_facet | December Mandlenkosi Mpanza Pragashnie Govender Anna Voce |
| author_sort | December Mandlenkosi Mpanza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Provision of aftercare services for persons with substance use disorders (PWSUD) within a rural context is typically met with various intersecting challenges, including unclear policy implications and lack of resources. In the South African context, service providers are expected to provide aftercare services that should successfully reintegrate persons with PWSUD into society, the workforce, family and community life as mandated by Act No. 70 of 2008, despite population diversity. Little has been established on the provision of aftercare services in South Africa and specifically within a rural context. This article explores service providers’ perspectives in aftercare service provision for PWSUD in a rural district. Methods A qualitative exploratory study design was conducted in a rural district in South Africa using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with forty-six service providers from governmental and non-governmental institutions, ranging from implementation to policy level of service provision. Data were analyzed thematically using a deductive approach. Codes were predetermined from the questions and the aims and objectives of the study used Beer’s Viable Systems Model as a theoretical framework. NVivo Pro 12 qualitative data analysis software guided the organization and further analysis of the data. Results Four themes emanated from the data sets. Theme 1 on reflections of the interactional state of aftercare services and program content identified the successes and inadequacies of aftercare interventions including relevant recommendations for aftercare services. Themes 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate reflections of service provision from implementation to policy level, namely, identifying existing barriers to aftercare service provision, situating systemic enablers to aftercare service provision, and associated aftercare system recommendations. Conclusions The intersecting systemic complexities of providing aftercare services in a rural context in South Africa was evident. There existed minimal enablers for service provision in this rural district. Service providers are confronted with numerous systemic barriers at all levels of service provision. To strengthen the aftercare system, policies with enforcement of aftercare services are required. Moreover, a model of aftercare that is integrated into the existing services, family centered, sensitive to the rural context and one that encourages the collaboration of stakeholders could also strengthen and sustain the aftercare system and service provision. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:23:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99124ca12bda47b2aa1d77ebbe3001d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1747-597X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:23:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-99124ca12bda47b2aa1d77ebbe3001d52022-12-22T03:44:13ZengBMCSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy1747-597X2022-08-0117111710.1186/s13011-022-00471-5Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South AfricaDecember Mandlenkosi Mpanza0Pragashnie Govender1Anna Voce2Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu NatalDiscipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu NatalDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu NatalAbstract Background Provision of aftercare services for persons with substance use disorders (PWSUD) within a rural context is typically met with various intersecting challenges, including unclear policy implications and lack of resources. In the South African context, service providers are expected to provide aftercare services that should successfully reintegrate persons with PWSUD into society, the workforce, family and community life as mandated by Act No. 70 of 2008, despite population diversity. Little has been established on the provision of aftercare services in South Africa and specifically within a rural context. This article explores service providers’ perspectives in aftercare service provision for PWSUD in a rural district. Methods A qualitative exploratory study design was conducted in a rural district in South Africa using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with forty-six service providers from governmental and non-governmental institutions, ranging from implementation to policy level of service provision. Data were analyzed thematically using a deductive approach. Codes were predetermined from the questions and the aims and objectives of the study used Beer’s Viable Systems Model as a theoretical framework. NVivo Pro 12 qualitative data analysis software guided the organization and further analysis of the data. Results Four themes emanated from the data sets. Theme 1 on reflections of the interactional state of aftercare services and program content identified the successes and inadequacies of aftercare interventions including relevant recommendations for aftercare services. Themes 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate reflections of service provision from implementation to policy level, namely, identifying existing barriers to aftercare service provision, situating systemic enablers to aftercare service provision, and associated aftercare system recommendations. Conclusions The intersecting systemic complexities of providing aftercare services in a rural context in South Africa was evident. There existed minimal enablers for service provision in this rural district. Service providers are confronted with numerous systemic barriers at all levels of service provision. To strengthen the aftercare system, policies with enforcement of aftercare services are required. Moreover, a model of aftercare that is integrated into the existing services, family centered, sensitive to the rural context and one that encourages the collaboration of stakeholders could also strengthen and sustain the aftercare system and service provision.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00471-5AftercareService provisionPersons with substance use disorders (PWSUD) |
| spellingShingle | December Mandlenkosi Mpanza Pragashnie Govender Anna Voce Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy Aftercare Service provision Persons with substance use disorders (PWSUD) |
| title | Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa |
| title_full | Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa |
| title_short | Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa |
| title_sort | perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a rural district in south africa |
| topic | Aftercare Service provision Persons with substance use disorders (PWSUD) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00471-5 |
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