Transition to Methadone Take Away Dosing and Perceived Benefits at A High-Capacity Temeke Medically Assisted Therapy Clinic in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Fridah Tobias Mtui, Francis Lukuwi Benedict, Christina Vitalis Mramba, Rajabu Kichawele, Joseph Gasper Kimaro and Gread Gumbo
Additional contact information
Fridah Tobias Mtui: Department of Psychiatry, Temeke Regional referral hospital, Box 45232, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
Francis Lukuwi Benedict: Department of Psychiatry, Temeke Regional referral hospital, Box 45232, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
Christina Vitalis Mramba: Department of Psychiatry, Temeke Regional referral hospital, Box 45232, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
Rajabu Kichawele: Department of Psychiatry, Temeke Regional referral hospital, Box 45232, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
Joseph Gasper Kimaro: Department of Psychiatry, Temeke Regional referral hospital, Box 45232, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
Gread Gumbo: Department of Psychiatry, Temeke Regional referral hospital, Box 45232, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 2025, vol. 12, issue 6, 1774-1778

Abstract: Aim: Methadone is currently the only opioid agonist therapy provided in Tanzania and this is almost exclusively dispensed daily. This highlight Take away dose (TAD) as one of the ways of informing flexible and more person-centred model of care for methadone treatment in Tanzania. Methods: Routine secondary clinical data from Temeke Methadone clinic has been utilized. Temeke MAT clinic is located within Temeke Regional referral Hospital in the Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, it has more than 3500 registered clients and the active number of beneficiaries being about 960, who are being daily dispensed with methadone medication. We have used data from the Register books, daily attendance registers and TAD data from the registers and pharmacy dispensing register. Results: By the end of 2024 there was a total of 143 clients in TAD of whom 124 were active clients in routine TAD and 7 were on special TAD. There were 19 TAD cancellation due to various reasons majority being Methadone diversion and repeated failure to adhere to TAD policy. The prevalence of MAT clients on TAD form total active clients is 124/1020 (12%). Conclusions: Despite TAD being introduced at Temeke MAT clinic to increase efficacy in providing quality services, the number of clients joining TAD is still low and this may be due to high threshold needed to be enrolled in TAD. TAD is important aspects in MAT service provision by ensuring those beneficiaries who in one way or another are unable to attend to the clinic daily are getting the services. It is a high time we review the eligibility criteria on TAD protocol to increase the numbers of beneficiaries so that we can improve retention and adherence at our clinic and contribute to 2030 goals of eliminating HIV and viral hepatitis.

Date: 2025
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