Experiences of women who inject Nyaope residing in the City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng

Abstract

Background: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a serious public health concern in South Africa and throughout the world. Substance use disorder manifests itself as repeated use of a substance causes health problems and social dysfunction, such as health issues, impairment and failure to meet obligations. People who inject drugs (PWIDs) are a particularly vulnerable population with high rates of illness and early deaths. The experiences of women who inject Nyaope (WWIN) are not well understood because they are not often the subject of studies. Therefore, it is important to understand the experience of WWIN in order to understand their needs.

Aim: This study explored the experiences of WWIN who reside in the City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng.

Setting: The study was conducted in the Community-Oriented Substance Use Programme.

Methods: A qualitative research method using exploratory and descriptive designs was employed. Twenty-four women, ages from 19 years – 35 years, with a history of injecting Nyaope were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed thematically.

Results: Women who inject Nyaope engage in high-risk behaviours such as sex work, transactional sex, inconsistent condom use and sharing of needles. They further experience stigma in different social settings, like family, community, health settings and with the police, and they also self-stigmatise. They experience a variety of unmet needs.

Conclusion: Women who inject Nyaope engage in high-risk behaviour and experience stigma across social settings, including self-stigma, and because of their lifestyle, they have a variety of unmet needs.

Contribution: There is a scarcity of literature on WWIN in a South African context. The findings add to the existing literature on WWIN.