Browsing by Author "Belew, Mesfin"

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    The Magnitude of Khat Use and Its Association With Health , Nutrition and Socio-Economic Status
    (Addis Abeba Universty, 1997-12) Belew, Mesfin; Kebede, Dereje (PhD)
    A house to house survey was carried out in a rural Ethiopaian c ommunity to determine prevalence of khat use and its association with t he health ; nut ritional, and socio - economic status users . A total of 1200 adults were interviewed . Among these 60.9% were males and 79 . 1% Moslems. The curre l . prevalence of khat chewing was found to be 31 . 7%. Muslims more than Christians, males more females, those beween t he ages 15 and 34 years mon ' than other age groups were habitual users . Select ci physical inJuries, illnesses, (OR(95%C I ))=1.52(1,14,2.02 ). (OR(95%CI)=2.31(1.42,3.79), undernutrition. OR (95%CI) =1. 76 (1.24,2 . 48), OR (95%CI) =8 . 30 (5.20,13 . 31) , associated with khat use . mental distres rwere found to be Family function amOL current khat users was significantly higher than non users (OR95%CI ) = 1. 56 (1.04,2 . 28) . The function among current users was observed to be abou t 20% higher. It is concluded that a fairly larg~ proportion of the population consumes khat and thel,'. this is related to physical ill-health and meta l. distress, al though family and social functioning a n, economic well-being seem to be unaffected.