Social Support Among Women Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment in Iran

Abstract

This study was designed and conducted to explain perceived social support among women undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in Iran. This study was a simultaneous mixed method research. Within the quantitative part of the study, a total number of 138 female clients were selected through a convenience sampling method from 37 rehabilitation clinics located in the city of Isfahan and then assessed via a demographic characteristics questionnaire and Perceived Social Support Scale. Using purposive and snowball sampling methods in the qualitative part of the study, in-depth face-to-face, individual, and semistructured interviews were administered on 18 female clients willing to participate in the given research. Then, the quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed through quantitative content analysis and statistical tests using the SPSS Version 18 software, respectively. The results of the qualitative part were reduced to 203 codes, 17 subcategories, eight categories, and four main categories including family support and acceptance, relatives' support and acceptance interaction, and being supported and understood by society as well as individual social security needs. The results of the quantitative part also revealed that social support among women undergoing MMT was lower than the moderate level. The given findings were also consistent with the results in the qualitative part. Moreover, the results showed that drug-dependent women undergoing MMT experienced unmet social needs, which could affect them and overshadow their treatment and rehabilitation processes. Therefore, it is necessary to accommodate such needs through appropriate planning.