Current Situation of Nutrition Services in Selected Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers in the Philippines

Abstract

Background: People who used drugs (PWUDs) use excessive alcohol and illicit drugs that pose a serious threat to families, society, and the nation’s health and socioeconomic status. They are also vulnerable to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that may threaten their physical and mental health and weaken their immune system. Nutrition plays an important role in the rehabilitation of PWUDs; hence, it must be integrated into the recovery programs in treatment and rehabilitation centers (TRCs). Objectives: This study was done to assess and benchmark the nutrition care processes offered to PWUDs in selected government-owned and private TRCs in the Philippines. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 19 TRCs coming from both government (n = 9) and private (n = 10) rehabilitation centers as samples from Regions I, III, IV-A, VI, XI, and National Capital Region. A total of 45 key personnel from the selected TRCs were interviewed. The information gathered by interview of the director and other key personnel on the nutrition care processes and programs offered in the center, ocular observation on dietary facilities, as well as document reviews of existing hospital policies and services. Results: Nutrition services, such as anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were only conducted in 17 TRCs, while dietary assessment (plate waste) was done only in four TRCs. None of the TRCs were able to provide nutrition counseling or education for the PWUDs. Most TRCs (57.9%) did not have their own Registered Nutritionist Dietitians (RND), and the majority (78.9%) provided uncalculated diet to PWUDs. The mean cost of meals per day was higher in the private TRCs (USD 0.96) than the government TRCs (USD 0.8). In terms of facilities, most of the TRCs had no dietary rooms (68.4%), and some of the government TRCs had no appropriate dining areas (33.3%). Conclusions: TRCs do not follow the nutritional care process in the management of PWUDs, even in some TRCs with RNDs, because they lack the environment and infrastructure to do this. These services are vital for the holistic management of PWUDs for improved quality of life. A viable recommendation is to develop a Nutrition Management Guidelines to be integrated into the manual of operations of the department of health for TRCs.