Prevalence and Factors Associated with Regular Khat Chewing Among College and University Students in Harar Town 2024

Abstract

Background: Khat (Catha edulis) is an evergreen shrub that is a natural stimulant native, planted and chewed in eastern through southern parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula with distribution in parts of the Middle East and on the island of Madagascar. Khat chewing is becoming a common practice and great concern in university and college students because they think that it helps increase their academic performance especially during exams and for recreational purposes. It is widely understood that the consumption of Khat creates a remarkable problem for today’s youth which is not limited to individual users; rather its adverse negative consequence is believed to be challenging to a family, the community as a whole, economy and political arena of a given nation. Objective of the Study: To assess Prevalence and factors associated with regular khat chewing among college and university students in Harar town 2024. Methodology: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted in Harar Town from December 13 up to 29, 2023 on selected university and colleges. A total sample of 371 students was including on the study. Data was collected through structured questioner. Training was given for data collectors and data evaluation done on daily based. Cleaned data were entered to SPSS version 20 and multiple logistic regression analysis was used for better prediction of determinants and to reduce bias due to confounders. Those variables with P-value < 0.20 was entered in to multiple logistic regression analysis. Associations with P - value less than 0.05 was declared as statistically significant. Result: The Prevalence of khat chewing on this study was 57.4%. In multivariable analysis marital status, religion, Peers who chew khat, peers who smoke cigarette, students whose lives in rented house, Smoke cigarette while chewing chat, currently drink alcohol were associated with outcome variables. Conclusion and Recommendation: Majority of students was khat chewers for a long period of time and there also start chewing before their joining university and or college. Peer pressure, living condition and alcohol usage were significant predictors of khat chewing therefore to alleviate this problem effort on preventive measure is need by all stake holders at different levels.