Dereje KebedeMesfin Belew2018-09-212023-11-052018-09-212023-11-051997-12http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/12085A house to house survey was carried out in a rural Ethiopian community to determine prevalence of khat use and its association with t he health ; nutritional, and socio - economic status users . A total of 1200 adults were interviewed . Among these 60.9% were males and 79 . 1% Moslems. The currel . prevalence of khat chewing was found to be 31 . 7%. Muslims more than Christians, males more females, those between 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 distress were 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 about 20% higher. It is concluded that a fairly large proportion of the population consumes khat and there this is related to physical ill-health and meta l. distress, al though family and social functioning an, economic well-being seem to be unaffected.enMagnitude, Khat Use, Health , Nutrition ,Socio Economic StatusThesis