Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing during Pregnancy in Yemen: Findings from a National Population Survey

Khawaja, Marwan; Al-Nsour, Mohannad; Saad, Ghada E

doi:10.1007/s10995-007-0231-2

Cited by 47 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Reported frequency and intensity of khat chewing as well as mood changes following khat abstinence were higher in men than in women. The gender by age interaction with a positive linkage between age and khat dependence in women only also supported our hypothesis, which is consistent with prior work (Khawaja et al, 2008; Bongard et al, 2011; Ali et al, 2004). …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Severity of khat dependence among adult khat chewers: The moderating influence of gender and age

Nakajima

Dokam

Alsameai

et al. 2014

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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The escalating use of khat (Catha edulis) in East Africa and Arabia is a major concern for public health. Yet little is known about the impact of khat on behaviour. To that end, there has been no study in the region to assess the extent to which dependence syndrome is associated with khat use in this population. We examined in this study was psychometric properties of the Severity of Dependence Scale-Khat (SDS-khat), gender differences in patterns of khat use and dependence, and the extent to which age moderated the link between gender and khat dependence. Two-hundred and ninety-two khat chewers recruited in two Yemeni cities completed face-to-face interviews asking about demographics and patterns of khat use. Validity of SDS-khat was examined by the principle component analysis and reliability of the scale was tested by the Cronbach's alpha. A series of chi-square tests and analysis of variances (ANOVAs) were conducted to examine gender differences in khat use variables. The results indicated that the mean age of khat chewers was 30.52 years (95% CI: 29.34, 31.70) years, and 52% of them were males. The SDS-khat was found to have two factors with moderate reliability. This pattern was consistent when the analysis was conducted in the entire sample and in each gender. Male khat chewers reported more symptoms related to khat dependence than female chewers. A significant gender by age interaction in SDS-khat levels (p =0.013) revealed a positive association between age and khat dependence in women only. These results provide initial support for the use of SDS-khat in the assessment of khat dependence in Yemen. Gender differences in khat use patterns and dependence observed in this study call the need for more studies carefully examining the role of gender in khat research.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Severity of khat dependence among adult khat chewers: The moderating influence of gender and age

Nakajima

Dokam

Alsameai

et al. 2014

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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“…The demographics of khat users are changing as well. Individuals are starting to use at younger ages and women, who previously were socially prohibited from using the drug, have started using it significantly, even during pregnancy and while breast-feeding (Khawaja et al, 2008).…”

Section: Khat: the Bitter Sweet Leavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The stimulant khat—Another door in the wall? A call for overcoming the barriers

Odenwald

Warfa²,

Bhui³

et al. 2010

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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a b s t r a c tAim: In this article, we comment on the current international discourse on khat, we highlight pitfalls and and suggest balanced national international regulatory actions. Method: A brief an focussed review of the available literature on khat and health and examples from our own research are provided. Results: The use patterns of catha edulis (khat) have changed throughout the last decades. During this period khat has had a remarkable economic boom and developed from a niche crop to the backbone of the regional economy. Now it contributes to the livelihoods of millions of people. Today, khat use is often the proverbial "Door in the wall" for large parts of the populations in African and Arab countries beyond the traditional user groups. Its use is often excessive and not restricted by social regulation mechanisms. Under such conditions, problematic khat use patterns develop rapidly, exemplified by the growing group of binge users, and it gets even prevalent among especially vulnerable groups such as children, people with mental disorders or pregnant women. The currently existing scientific evidence suggests that problematic use patterns not the use per se can be linked to numerous health consequences. Conclusion: This paper argues that changed patterns of khat use are a burden for some of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. But the debate around khat is stuck between extreme poles arguing for prohibition or for de-regulation. Here, we call for a balanced action of governments and international organizations leaving behind the decades of debilitating debate pro vs. contra scheduling and banning khat leaves. Instead, regulation and harm-reduction measures are urgently needed. We suggest a number of steps that should be taken immediately to better understand current khat use patterns, to address noxious excesses and to relieve suffering.

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“…Khat chewing has recently become common among pregnant women in Yemen (approximately 41.0%) [19]. In the previous studies, khat chewing among pregnant women was associated with reduced daily food intake, anaemia, disturbance of foetal growth, low birth weight, perinatal and infant death, and other obstetric health problems [20–23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family Context and Khat Chewing among Adult Yemeni Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

AL-abed

Sutan

Al-Dubai

et al. 2014

BioMed Research International

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Khat chewing is associated with unfavourable health outcomes and family dysfunction. Few studies have addressed the factors associated with khat chewing among Yemeni women. However, the family and husband effects on chewing khat by women have not been addressed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of khat chewing among Yemeni women and its associated factors, particularly husbands and family factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 692 adult Yemeni women in the city of Sana'a in Yemen using structured “face to face” interviews. Mean (±SD) age of women was 27.3 years (±6.10). The prevalence of chewing khat by women was 29.6%. Factors associated with chewing khat among women were chewing khat by husbands (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.26, 2.53), being married (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.37), frequent family social gatherings (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.10), high family income (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.21), larger house (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.31), and age of women (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.92). It is concluded that khat chewing by women in this study was significantly associated with family factors and with khat chewing by their husbands. Urgent action is needed to control khat chewing particularly among women.

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Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing during Pregnancy in Yemen: Findings from a National Population Survey

Abstract: Khat chewing during pregnancy is highly prevalent in Yemen. Socio-economically disadvantaged women were more likely to chew khat than other women.

Cited by 47 publications

References 19 publications

Severity of khat dependence among adult khat chewers: The moderating influence of gender and age

Severity of khat dependence among adult khat chewers: The moderating influence of gender and age

The stimulant khat—Another door in the wall? A call for overcoming the barriers

Family Context and Khat Chewing among Adult Yemeni Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

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