The ambiguity of khat in Somaliland

Hansen, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.02.028

Cited by 39 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…More than 70% of khat chewers were younger than 35 years, and the unemployment rate was 62% among khat chewers. This is in accordance with the opinions reported by other studies, which have reported that excessive khat use is associated with reduced productivity and risk of unemployment because khat reduces motivation of work and increases the occurrences of work absenteeism [8,46,47]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Khat chewing and health related quality of life: cross-sectional study in Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sheikh

Yagoub²,

Alsanosy

et al. 2014

Health Qual Life Outcomes

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BackgroundThe chewing of Khat leaves, a natural psychoactive substance is widely chewed in countries of East Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, and is reported to be associated with a range of unfavorable health outcomes including khat dependence. The impact of Khat chewing on Health Related Quality of Life is yet to be explored. Aims: to measure and compare the quality of life of the khat chewers and non-khat chewers using a short form health survey (SF36), and to assess factors associated with Khat chewing using SF36 in a sample of adult population in Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.MethodsA total of 630 participants from two independent male populations of khat chewers and non-khat chewers were recruited into a cross-sectional survey study. A self administrative survey based on the SF-36 questionnaire was used to collect data on measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Socioeconomic data of the respondents were also collected for detailed analysis. Data analysis include: descriptive statistics, reliability tests (Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient), and bivariate analysis (Chi square and Mann–Whitney U-test) to compare HRQoL of Khat chewers and non-Khat chewers.ResultsThe odds of being a khat chewer were higher in respondents with a lower socioeconomic status. The SF-36 scores were significantly lower in all domains for respondents with khat chewing, indicating that non-khat chewers had higher health perceptions compared with those chewing khat. The overall mean score of HRQoL for non-khat chewers was 92.7% (SD 5.53) compared with 63.5% (SD 21.73) for the khat chewing group. The study had shown good internal consistency and reproducibility across the eight subscales of SF-36 questionnaire (α 0.74-0.95). The Mann–Whitney U-test showed a significant difference between khat chewers and non-khat chewers (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study measured and compared the quality of life of khat chewers and non-khat chewers using a generic health survey (SF36). The study had shown that khat chewing is associated with lower quality of life (HRQoL) and lower socioeconomic status. However in future a more refined SF36 developed especially for Khat chewers can provide more useful information.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Khat chewing and health related quality of life: cross-sectional study in Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sheikh

Yagoub²,

Alsanosy

et al. 2014

Health Qual Life Outcomes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the traditional khat chewing areas, chewing is mostly not a solitary practice 60–62. People chew khat in the company of friends discussing issues deemed important by the chewers 60,61. Hence, as Hansen61 noted, some chewers may attend chewing sessions mainly for socialization while not much interested in the chewing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…People chew khat in the company of friends discussing issues deemed important by the chewers 60,61. Hence, as Hansen61 noted, some chewers may attend chewing sessions mainly for socialization while not much interested in the chewing. As also shown by the present and other studies,62 socialization is one of the reasons ascribed to khat chewing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia

Astatkie¹,

Demissie²,

Berhane³

et al. 2015

SAR

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PurposeKhat (Catha edulis) is commonly chewed for its psychostimulant and euphorigenic effects in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Students use it to help them study for long hours especially during the period of examination. However, how regularly khat is chewed among university students and its associated factors are not well documented. In this article we report on the prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia.MethodsWe did a cross-sectional study from May 20, 2014 to June 23, 2014 on a sample of 1,255 regular students recruited from all campuses of Hawassa University, southern Ethiopia. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. We analyzed the data to identify factors associated with current regular khat chewing using complex sample adjusted logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of current regular khat chewing was 10.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.1%–14.9%). After controlling for sex, religion, year of study, having a father who chews khat, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in the adjusted logistic regression model, living off-campus in rented houses as compared to living in the university dormitory (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] =8.09 [1.56–42.01]), and having friends who chew khat (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] =4.62 [1.98–10.74]) were found to significantly increase the odds of current regular khat use.ConclusionStudents living outside the university campus in rented houses compared to those living in dormitory and those with khat chewing peers are more likely to use khat. A multipronged prevention approach involving students, the university officials, the surrounding community, and regulatory bodies is required.

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“…Qaad is a mild stimulant which most Somali males chew in the afternoon hours; it is a central means of forging social and political ties in northern Somalia. 58 Influential figures are expected to regularly hand out qaad to their relatives and followers. Generosity, an important characteristic of any Somali leader, was traditionally expressed by slaughtering a goat for the guests.…”

Section: Different Types Of Traditional Authoritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limits of hybrid political orders: the case of Somaliland

Hoehne¹

2013

Journal of Eastern African Studies

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Hybrid political orders are in the literature discussed as a heuristic tool to understand how power and legitimacy are negotiated in settings where the Western model of the liberal democratic state does not work. Sometimes they are presented as an alternative model for successful statehood, e.g., by combining 'traditional' and 'modern' political institutions. The Republic of Somaliland is frequently presented as functioning hybrid political order. A cornerstone for Somaliland's success was the integration of traditional authorities in government. These authorities engaged in peace-building and state formation in the early 1990s. Their role was institutionalized in the 'House of Elders', the upper house of parliament. This article argues that the hybrid political order of Somaliland has outlived its success. What is left at the beginning of the 21st century is an imbalanced and in many regards 'crippled' hybrid. It threatens democratic progress and undermines the authority and legitimacy of the state institutions as well as the leading traditional authorities in the region. These developments in Somaliland show the limits of hybrid political systems in general.

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The ambiguity of khat in Somaliland

Cited by 39 publications

References 23 publications

Khat chewing and health related quality of life: cross-sectional study in Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Khat chewing and health related quality of life: cross-sectional study in Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia

Limits of hybrid political orders: the case of Somaliland

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