Association Between Khat Chewing and Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Cross Sectional Study
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is a psycho-stimulant substance grown in East Africa. But its adverse effects and its prevalence are not well studied. The main aim of the present study is thus to assess the association between khat chewing and GI problems among students in Ambo University. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2010 on 1005 Ambo University students. Study subjects were selected using systematic random sampling technique, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was made using SPSS version 16.0 for windows package. RESULTS The mean age of the respondents was 20.79 ± 1.39 ranging from 18-30 years. Seven hundred twenty (71.6 %) of the study participants were males and 994 (98.9%) were in the age group of 15-24 years. The prevalence of gastritis was 580 (57.7%); constipation 235 (23.4%); hemorrhoids 54 (5.4%) and that of dental problems (carries, decay, filling and extraction) was 225 (22.4%) of all study participants. Gastrointestinal disorders were found to be higher among khat chewers, where 64(36.2%) of them had dental problems; 127(71.8%) symptoms of gastritis; 86(48.6%) constipation and 26(14.7%) hemorrhoids which demonstrated statistically significant association with p < 0.001. CONCLUSION The prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders was found to be higher among khat chewers, indicating that khat chewing could be a predisposing factor to gastrointestinal disorders. Community-based awareness creation about the adverse effect of khat use is thus recommended.
منابع مشابه
Factors Associated with Khat Chewing among High School Students in Jimma Town Southwest Ethiopia
Background: Khat is a large green shrub grown in Eastern to Southern Africa and extends to Arabian Peninsula. Khat has its own impact on mental and physical health of the chewers. Studies revealed that khat chewing was associated with frequent absenteeism from class and poor academic performance among students. Although khat has harmful consequences, little is known about factors associated wit...
متن کاملOral symptoms significantly higher among long-term khat (Catha edulis) users in Ethiopia
OBJECTIVES Associations between khat (Catha edulis) chewing and different adverse oral-dental health conditions have been reported, yet evidence is still lacking. This study was designed to investigate the association between long-term regular khat chewing and self-reported oral symptoms. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1,255 university students in southern Ethiop...
متن کاملKhat chewing and health related quality of life: cross-sectional study in Jazan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
BACKGROUND The 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...
متن کاملFamily Context and Khat Chewing among Adult Yemeni Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
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 ...
متن کاملKhat Chewing and Mental Distress: A Community Based Study, in Jimma City, Southwestern Ethiopia
BACKGROUND Khat (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 b...
متن کامل