SUBSTANCE REHABILITATION SERVICES AND REHABILITEE’S FAMILY PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING: CASE OF MATHARI TREATMENT AND SUBSTANCE REHABILITATION CENTRE NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Substance abuse has become detrimental to family psychological wellbeing. It is a source of agony that dulls rehabilitee’s family psychological health. Evidence shows that family is psychologically destabilised through substance abuse by a relative; socially, physically and financially. This upsets family psychological wellbeing. While substance rehabilitee receives rehabilitation services, little is known about rehabilitee’s family psychological wellbeing. This study therefore investigated the substance rehabilitation services and rehabilitee’s family psychological wellbeing: case of Mathari Treatment and Substance Rehabilitation Centre Nairobi County, Kenya. Study objectives were; To investigate services offered in Mathari Substance rehabilitation centre towards rehabilitee’s family psychological wellbeing; Assess to what extent substance abuse of a relative affects family psychological wellbeing in Mathari; Determine the relationship between services offered in Mathari and rehabilitee’s family psychological wellbeing, Examine intervention measures that would benefit rehabilitee’s family psychological wellbeing. The study was guided by Family Systems Theory (FST). A mixed method approach was used and concurrent research design adopted. The study population was 170 comprising substance rehabilitees (N=50), staff members (N=20) and ex-rehabilitee’s family members (N=100). A sample size of 119 was selected out of which, 114 responded to the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select staff members and substance rehabilitees. Simple random sampling technique was used to select family members in the Clinic for Substance Abuse Therapy (CSAT). The age range for all respondents was 14 to 55 years. Quantitative and qualitative methods were engaged. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and backed up with narratives from participants. Data merging was done at interpretation. Findings from respondents indicated that services offered in Mathari rehabilitation centre benefited individual substance in-patients. It was found that, there were inadequate services for family psychological wellbeing. Family suffers financial misappropriation and constraints, strained relationships, transmission of diseases and denial.The findings showed Pearson’s correlation was found to be (p˂ 0.05, r =0.031).There was no significant correlation between the services offered and family psychological wellbeing in Mathari. Family intervention measures included family counselling, family support groups, and spiritual nourishment and follow up. The study recommended; training and employment of more psychologists /counsellors, financial allocation increment and enlargement of the facility. Establishment of similar facilities, awareness about Mathari substance rehabilitation centre and services offered and the most important, inclusion of rehabilitee’s family support group programmes.