Khat Chewing and Mental Distress: A Community Based Study, in Jimma City, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundKhat (Catha edulis) contains a psychoactive substance, cathinone, which produces central nervous system stimulation analogous to amphetamine. It is believed that khat chewing has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of individuals as well as the socioeconomic condition of the family and the society at large. There is lack of community based studies regarding the link between khat use and poor mental health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between khat use and mental distress and to determine the prevalence of mental distress and khat use in Jimma City.MethodsA cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in Jimma City from October 15 to November 15, 2009. The study used a structured questionnaire and Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 designed by WHO and which has been translated into Amharic and validated in Ethiopia. By multi stage sampling, 1200 individuals were included in the study. Data analysis was done using SPSS for window version 13.ResultsThe Khat use prevalence was found to be 37.8% during the study period. Majority of the khat users were males (73.5%), age group 18–24 (41.1%), Muslims (46.6%), Oromo Ethnic group (47.2%), single (51.4%), high school students (46.8%) and employed (80%). Using cut-off point 7 out of 20 on the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20, 25.8% of the study population was found to have mental distress. Males (26.6%), persons older than 55 years (36.4%), Orthodox Christians (28.4%), Kefficho Ethnic groups (36.4%), widowed (44.8%), illiterates (43.8%) and farmers (40.0%) had higher rates of mental distress. We found that mental distress and khat use have significant association (34.7% Vs 20.5%, P<0.001). There was also significant association between mental distress and frequency of khat use (41% Vs 31.1%, P<0.001)ConclusionThe high rate of khat use among the young persons calls for public intervention to prevent more serious forms of substance use disorders. Our findings suggest that persons who use khat suffer from higher rates of mental distress. However, causal association could not be established due to cross-sectional study design.

Prevalence of Khat abuse and associated factors among undergraduate students of Jimma University, Ethiopia

“…This finding is supported by a community based study conducted on Khat Chewing and mental distress in Jimma City, South Western Ethiopia. 18 Related study which was conducted among high school students in Dire Dawa 19 confirmed that Khat chewing is strongly associated being Muslim.…”

Prevalence of khat chewing and its effect on academic performance in Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…For instance university based prevalence studies conducted in Ethiopia reported khat use prevalence ranging from 13.4% to 41% for lifetime, 7% to 20.3% for past 12 months, and 6.3% to 33.1% current or past 30 days 32 . Much bigger prevalence reports noticed in Ethiopia are from one school survey report and other community based surveys 7,34 .…”

“…The growing research evidence shows that khat is a risk factor for different cardio-vascular disorders such as hypertension, ischemic heart diseases, and stroke 3,4 . Khat is also a risk factor for poor oral health 5 , psychosis 6 , mental distress 7 , anemia 8 , poor quality of life 9 , disturbed sleep pattern [10][11][12] , and duodenal ulcer 13 .…”

Prevalence of &lt;i&gt;Catha edulis&lt;/i&gt; (Khat) Chewing and Its Associated Factors among Ataye Secondary School Students in Northern Shoa, Ethiopia

“…Khat is chewed daily by a high proportion of adult population for its Central Nervous System stimulant effect (Hussein, 2009). Furthermore, it is widely masticated among youth Ethiopians, especially high school, college and university students (Damena et al, 2011). Its effects on the chewers include increased levels of energy, increased self-esteem, euphoria, increased libido, excitement, and increased proclivity for social interaction (Deressa & Azazh, 2011;Oshodi et al, 2010).…”