A systematic review on risk factors for khat chewing among adolescents in the African continent and Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

Introduction Khat is a flowering plant with stimulant effect on the nervous system and produce psychological dependence. Despite its harmful effects, the ingestion of khat has been part of cultural norms and the legality of khat varies by region. Objective This systematic review aimed at critically evaluating the available evidence on the risk factors of khat chewing among adolescents. Methods A systematic review was conducted on published research studies from five databases Scopus, PubMed, Science-direct, Ovid and google scholar using keywords khat chewing OR qat chewing AND associated factors OR risk factors OR contributing factors AND adolescents OR teenagers. Articles included were either cross-sectional, cohort, case-control or qualitative studies which were published between the year 1990 till present. Excluded articles were the non-English written articles, descriptive studies and irrelevant topics being studied. Results Out of 2617 records identified and screened, six were included for the analysis and interpretation of the data. All included studies were cross-sectional study design. All six studies reported having family members who chewed khat significantly predict khat chewing among adolescents, followed by five articles for friends or peers who also chewed khat and four articles for male gender. Smoking was also found to have the highest odds (OR = 18.2; 95% CI: 12.95–25.72) for khat chewing among adolescents. Conclusion The review highlights the crucial role of family members, friends or peers and male gender to predict khat chewing among adolescents. Effectiveness of health promotion programs to educate and reduce khat chewing among adolescents will require active participation of family members and friends.

Khat chewing and its associated factors among pregnant women in Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia: a community-based study

“…The present study found higher odds of khat chewing among pregnant women who had a khat chewer partner than their counterparts. This association was also detected by previous studies (22,26), and might be due to the need for increasing intimacy and socialization with their partners (1). Similar to previous reports (32), the likelihood of khat chewing was higher among pregnant women with a history of pre-pregnancy khat chewing than among women without such a history.…”

“…Khat (Catha edulis) is an evergreen stimulant plant that is widely cultivated and consumed in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula ( 1 ). The young buds and fresh, tender leaves are chewed to attain psycho-stimulation and euphoria ( 2 ).…”

“…Advancing global market and increased production of the crop due to its ability to tolerate climate extremes have enhanced the accessibility and consumption of khat worldwide ( 8 , 9 ). The practice is widely prevalent in Eastern Africa and the Middle East ( 1 , 8 ). A cross-sectional study in Yemen found that three in ten adult Yemeni women practice khat chewing ( 10 ).…”

“…Despite its deleterious consequences, khat chewing practice is escalating worldwide ( 1 , 7 ); its close relation with cultural norms and lack of clear regulatory rules in many high-producing countries have made control efforts less effective, if not ineffective ( 21 , 22 ). In Ethiopia, measures like increased taxation have been implemented ( 23 ), yet the problem remains substantial ( 24 ).…”

From traditional to transactional: exploration of khat use in Ethiopia through an interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…As such, khat can be addictive, with those chewing it recognizing their dependence on the stimulant to complete everyday tasks [ 3 , 4 ]. Risk factors that increase one’s likelihood of chewing khat include identifying as male, having family members and peers who also chew khat, smoking frequently, having previous traumatic experiences, and living in either Oromia or Harar Regions in Ethiopia [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]. Those who use khat explain their use is primarily driven by its ability to increase concentration and to socialize with their friends and family [ 7 ].…”