Khat culture and economic wellbeing: Comparison of a chewer and non-chewer families in Harar city

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

“…Numerous scholars reported khat as a malicious product that distracts the nation’s health, economy, and family dynamic as well as cultural or religious arguments [ 29 ] (Gudata, 2020). In certain society, khat consumption is accepted as an integral part of their culture, such as birth rituals, circumcision and marriage events.…”

“…Additionally, among farmers, labourers and long-distance lorry drivers, chewing khat able to provide them energy for their labour-intensive daily activities, as well as for students when preparing for exams [ 30 ] (Laminal, 2010). Similarly, clan elders, and religious devotees were also frequently consumed khat for similar reason for all night sessions of prayer during Ramadan, which have been practiced over a long period of time [ 29 ] (Gudata, 2020) as cultural norms. Despite the reported scale of production and consumption, relatively little is known about the many ways in which khat interacts with lives, livelihoods, health, and economies, with attempts to legally prohibit khat use in some countries have been failed [ 30 ] (Laminal, 2010).…”

“…There has been substantial supporting evidence on the role of family members and peers in substance intake among adolescents, with peer and family use are direct correlates to use of substances by adolescents [ 31 ] (Tsering & Pal, 2009). Khat consumption is part of cultural norms in certain communities, which may also involve family interactions, parenting styles and practices, as well as family modelling and family backgrounds that can influence adolescents and youth behaviour [ 29 ] (Gudata, 2020). Its social and cultural norms was reflected by more than half of the female students and a quarter of the male students chewed khat with family members and relatives reported in one of the studies reviewed [ 29 ] (Gudata, 2020).…”

“…Khat consumption is part of cultural norms in certain communities, which may also involve family interactions, parenting styles and practices, as well as family modelling and family backgrounds that can influence adolescents and youth behaviour [ 29 ] (Gudata, 2020). Its social and cultural norms was reflected by more than half of the female students and a quarter of the male students chewed khat with family members and relatives reported in one of the studies reviewed [ 29 ] (Gudata, 2020). Family and peer involve on both, the initiation and continuation of adolescent substance use, either due to poor parental behavior monitoring and control or acceptance towards the substance, manifested by their intake.…”

Climate change induced a progressive shift of livelihood from cereal towards Khat (Chata edulis) production in eastern Ethiopia

“…There is a substantial amounts of literature available on various aspects of the Khat crop, including expansion in the Ethiopian highlands [ 36 ]; on its socio-economic advantage [ 31 ]; on its benefit to climate change adaptation [ 39 ]; on its challenge [ 3 ]; on its psychological, economic, and social impact on the users [ 40 ]; on its benefit in reducing farming household vulnerability to climate variability [ 35 ]; on its implication on land use practice [ 41 ]; on its management practice [ 42 ]; on its suitability to practice agroforestry [ 38 ]; and on its socio-economic advantage to farmers [ 24 , 33 , 43 ].…”