The Magnitude of Khat Use and Its Association With Health , Nutrition and Socio-Economic Status
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Date
1997-12
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Publisher
Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
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.
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The Magnitude of Khat Use