Khat is an herbal cultivated plant growing mainly in eastern africa and arabians. A cross sectional study was conducted on bahir dar. Taking the place of food, edited by ezekiel gebissa. Khat is a stimulant, and its leaves and twigs are chewed by many people in the arabian peninsula and the horn of africa. Khat chewing among ethiopian university students a. Khat catha edulis is a slow growing stimulant shrub or tree that grows in rainy area of. A trader carries bundles of khat chat for the market hewan semon addis abeba, july 272017 increasingly popular among the youth of addis abeba, khat, commonly known as chat by ethiopians, is a controversial perishable stimulant. Khat chewing practice and its perceived health effects among. In equal proportion, the habit of khat chewing is expanding at an alarming rate among different social groups irrespective of gender, age, religion and ethnic background. The growing number of khat consumers, the lack of scientifically studies research on this specific issue and the emotional attachment that the researcher has with both the study area and the. Khat chewing is met with different sociocultural, as well as legal perspectives and practices in different countries. In ethiopia, a rehab centre takes on khat addiction. A gateway drug welday hagos, a clinical psychologist and director of the mekelebased centre ethiopias only free, longterm drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility believes that khat is a gateway drug to harder substances.
The world health organization considers khat as a drug of abuse. In countries where its sale and use are legal, it is sometimes used to treat fatigue, headaches, colds, and depression. Prevalence of khat chewing and associated factors in ethiopia. Khat consumption, traditionally confined to a certain segment of the population, had become popular among all segments of the population. Assessment of drug addiction and its associated factor. Ethiopia khat is weighed in a customs post near dire dawa. The present study was undertaken in habro district in western hararghie. Khat has no approved or evidencebased medical uses in the united states. This research tries to analyze the conceptualization, production and socioeconomic implication of khat in eastern parts of ethiopia. Most often the fresh leaves and shoots are chewed, although it can also be made into a tea or paste.
Khat chewing prevalence and correlates among university. Officials consider such widespread use of the drug, blamed on a lack of work, a huge problem for the country. Khat catha edulis is a stimulant leaf khat comes from a tree which grows in countries bordering the red sea which are along the east coast of africa and in west asia. Although khat is reported to cause various health problems, what constitutes problematic khat use has never been systematically investigated. While it accounts for about onethird of the countrys export earnings, this percentage is gradually declining with increased export sales of gold, cut flowers, textiles, leather products and khat. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors affecting current khat chewing among male adults in ethiopia. The estimate of the number of people chewing khat globally ranges from 5 to 10 million people most of which are in the horn of africa and arabian peninsula, specifically ethiopia, somalia, and yemen. Manurial value of khat waste vermicompost from awday, harar town, ethiopia hiranmai yadav rameshwar1 anteneh argaw1 received. This study was conducted to assess prevalence of khat chewing practice, its associated factors and perceived health effects among communities in dera woreda, am hara region, ethiopia 20. Background of the study some oral traditions claim that khat originated from yemen, however the literature indicates that khat originated from ethiopia, specifically in hararge with a gradual expansion to different parts of ethiopia, yemen and other parts of the world as. Khat is legal and generates more money per acre than any other crop in ethiopia. Khat, or catha edulis, is a flowering plant native to east africa which is legal to grow, sell and consume in ethiopia and used for its stimulant effects. Further analysis using the 2011 demographic and health.
Khat often refers to the leaves and young shoot of catha edulis. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among adults in. It is registered with the ministry of trade and industry of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia under license number 15522003. The following chart summarizes the legal status of khat catha edulis, also known as kat, qat, chat, and miraa, a plant whose leaves have a stimulant effect when chewed, in seven jurisdictions.
It has been widely used since the thirteenth century as a recreational drug by the. The khat farmer, trader, and majority of chewers are deeply tied to the leaves for historical, economic and cultural reasons. Different reasons have triggered the researcher to do this research. Click download or read online button to get ethiopians in an age of migration book now. Somaliland spends about 524 million dollars a year about 30% of gross domestic product on ethiopian khat many suspect the true figure to. Therefore cultivation of khat plant started earlier than. Prevalence and factors associated with use of khat.
Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of. Khat, previously known to grow mainly in the eastern part of ethiopia, was widely cultivated in all parts of the country. Addis abeba, july 272017 increasingly popular among the youth of addis abeba, khat, commonly known as chat by ethiopians, is a controversial perishable stimulant. Data are collected on the established risk factors and ncd conditions that. Khat chewing prevalence and correlates among university staff.
Khat is now one of ethiopias largest crops by area of cultivation, the countrys second largest export earner, and an essential source of income for millions of ethiopian farmers. Khat is a psychostimulant herb, which has been in use in traditional societies in east africa and the middle east over many centuries. The fresh khat leaves contain many compounds including alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, sterols, glycosides, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Prevalence, reasons, and perceived effects of khat chewing. Khat chewing practice and its perceived health effects. The psychoactive constituents of khat, cathinone and cathine, are structurally similar to amphetamine. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among adults. Khat production in this district is rapidly replacing cereal production and to some extent coffee production. This study aimed to identify factors associated with khat chewing practice among ethiopian adults. Socioeconomic and health effects of khat chewing in mekelle, tigray region, ethiopia. Definition of khat khat is a leafy green plant whose leaves are chewed for its stimulant and euphoric qualities cat, miraa, qat, khat, chat are some of the street names khat contains the same chemical structure to that of amphetamine. Assessment of drug addiction and its associated factor among. A community based crosssectional study was conducted by using both quantitative and qualitative methods among.
Individuals chew khat leaves because of the stimulant effects, which are similar to but less intense than those caused by using cocaine or methamphetamine. A community based study, in jimma city, southwestern ethiopia. Factors affecting current khat chewing among male adults. A trader carries bundles of khat chat for the market. Khat is a cash crop which really benefits the khat growers, traders and the government.
Khat use is a widely spreading public health problem affecting the most economically productive population areas in ethiopia. Khat is now one of ethiopia s largest crops by area of cultivation, the countrys second largest export earner, and an essential source of income for millions of ethiopian farmers. Oct 21, 2019 khat is an herbal cultivated plant growing mainly in eastern africa and arabians. This study has much larger sample size which represent all the undergraduate students compared to previous studies conducted among university students in ethiopia, 15.
Historical evidences indicate that khat use existed in ancient ethiopia abyssinia as early as th century and khat leaves were introduced in yemen in early 15th century. Reliable prevalence has not been recognized because of varying published rates. Although, anyone who has the intention to grow khat, may do so using seeds. Ethiopia, oromia, alem maya, chewing drug khat market, somali women. It has various negative physical, mental, social and cognitive effects. Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf khat chewing among ethiopian university students a growing concern article pdf available in bmc public health 141. The leaves of the crop are used for their stimulating effect. Perceived psychological, economic, and social impact of khat.
In a circumstance of land degradation and scarcity farmers consider khat as a better smallscale faming alternative. Khat catha edulis is a flowering shrub native to east africa and the arabian peninsula. A community based crosssectional study was conducted from march to june 2016 using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Manurial value of khat waste vermicompost from awday. The recent sharp increase in khat consumption may not only affect the health of individuals but could also have serious socioeconomic consequences. Oct 11, 2016 the main aim of this study was to assess psychological, economic, and social impact of khat chewing among adolescents, in nekemte town, east welega zone. Coffee has maintained its position as ethiopia s top export for many years. Ethiopians in an age of migration download ebook pdf, epub. The production of khat in ethiopia has boomed over the last two decades, making the country the worlds leading source. This study explored the acceptable and problematic uses of khat from the perspective of users.
Although khat is a relatively lowrisk drug, its associated with an increased risk for a variety of medical complications. Khat, catha edulis, is a flowering shrub native to east africa and the arabianpeninsula. Credit tiksa negeri for the new york times often associated with famine and marathon runners, ethiopia is trying to change its global image by engineering a fastgrowing economy, hoping to mimic asian nations like china. Attempts, albeit unsuccessful, have been made to link the use of khat with serious health issues such as psychosis, insomnia, paranoia, and depression. Chronic khat chewing leads to the development of liver toxicity, cardiovascular disease, sleeping disorder, psychosis, memory impairment, poor academic performance and variety of social and economic problems affecting the consumers and their families. Khat catha edulis is a rapidly expanding perennial crop in the ethiopian highlands, and it is ethiopia s second largest export item. Socio economic impact of khat addiction on the family. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with khat chewing among ethiopian university students. About half of ethiopias youth are thought to chew khat, a psychotropic leaf. In the next couple of years sanaa yemeni capital is due to run out of water completley thus becoming the first capital in the world to run out of water and this is largelly due to the cultivation of qat which is a very thirsty plant. Pdf prevalence of khat chewing and associated factors in. Despite health risks, trade is so lucrative that it is unlikely to slow down any.
The psycho active component within these leaves is cathinone. In ethiopia, khat is chewed routinely by users for its euphoric effects and as a recreational drug, and chewing khat has an important role as well in both. Ethiopians in an age of migration download ebook pdf. Pdf socioeconomic and health effects of khat chewing in. Khat farmers in its native regions do not grow the plants using seeds. Fresh khat from different origin contained on the average 36 mg cathinone, 120 mg cathine, and 8 mg. Although there have been many small scale studies, very limited national information has been available in the general population. Regions that were formerly known for coffee production have become major khat producing areas. Jul 22, 2017 about half of ethiopias youth are thought to chew khat, a psychotropic leaf. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among adults in ethiopia. Dave khat house with an ethiopian mobile phone number, selling the drug chewed widely in yemen, somalia and is currently legal in ethiopia. In this study, prevalence of cigarette smoking was found to be 8.
Even though khat addiction is a major public health problem, studies that consider both individual level and community level factors are limited. The country is the worlds biggest exporter for the amphetaminelike leaf. In my 2012, ethiopia exported an increased volume of coffee to the international market. Khat is a mildly narcotic plant that has been chewed and enjoyed socially for centuries in the horn of africa and the arabian peninsula. Khat is evergreen shrub that grows on high altitudes in the region extending from eastern africa to southern africa, as well as on the arabian peninsula. Prevalence and risk factors for khat use among youth. The phenylalkylamine content of khat leaves varies within wide limits.
It includes information regarding the legality of khat in each jurisdiction and, where it is banned, the applicable penalties. Khat use prevalence, causes and its effect on mental health, bahirdar, north west ethiopia asfaw getnet gebiresilus berhanie getnet gebresilus simegn sendek yizengaw daniel tsehay sewasew university of gondar, psychology department, college of social sciences and humanities,gondar, ethiopia teka zewudie mengesha. Khat is banned in european countries, united states, and canada while it is lawful in yemen, somalia, and ethiopia 76. Khat use among students has been linked with mental, physical, social, and psychological problems. Currently it is a ubiquitous commodity cultivated and chewed.
For ethiopias underemployed youth, life can center on a leaf. Ethiopia steps survey 2015 khat fact sheet the who stepwise approach to surveillance steps is a simple, standardized method for collecting, analyzing and disseminating data on noncommunicable diseases ncds and risk factors. Attempts, albeit unsuccessful, have been made to link the use of khat. Khat chewing is met with different sociocultural, as well as legal perspectives and. Khat acquires the status of cash crop in ethiopia the country thought to be the placeoforigin of the use of khat cox and rampes, 2003. Methods the study used the 2011 ethiopian demographic. This article is published with open access at abstract purpose catha edulis, commonly called as khat or chat is. In its original subtropical locale of ethiopia and yemen, khat grows very easily into small sized trees or large shrubs. This study was conducted to assess prevalence of khat chewing practice, its associated factors and perceived health effects among communities in dera woreda, amhara region, ethiopia 20. In the traditional context, khat is used in ritual and habitual ways that exhibit its cultural embeddedness.
Addis standard is a monthly english private magazine published and distributed by jakenn publishing p. The conceptualization of khat, its production and its. A study done on cigarette smoking and khat chewing among college students in north west ethiopia revealed. Khat is a perennial cash crop which has psychoactive properties whose tender leaves are chewed for euphonizing effects. In any of these countries, youll find the plant being sold freely at open markets and consumed with the same regularity as coffee in western countries. The khat plant is known by a variety of names, such as qat and gat in yemen, qaat and jaad in somalia, and chat in ethiopia. Dec 18, 2019 khat is a mildly narcotic plant that has been chewed and enjoyed socially for centuries in the horn of africa and the arabian peninsula. Prevalence and risk factors for khat use among youth students. Background khat chewing has become a highly prevalent practice and a growing public health concern in ethiopia. Khat catha edulis forsk, is a stimulant plant grown mainly in ethiopia, yemen and kenya. Khat, qat, kat, chat, miraa, quaadka september 2019. Before beginnings of 21st century, only limited amount of khat was chewed in ethiopia for socialization and religious purpose. Pdf khat chewing among ethiopian university students a. It accounts for 45 to 50% of ethiopia s total export earnings but, its share of total export earnings has gradually declined in recent years as a result of increased exports of other commodities such as gold, flowers, khat, textiles, and leather products.
Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf. Its true that in most of ethiopia consumption of qatchatmiraa is much lower than in yemen. Ethiopia coffee annual coffee production and exports. Aug 20, 2002 khat is a cash crop which really benefits the khat growers, traders and the government. For ethiopias underemployed youth, life can center on a. Findings from the 2015 national noncommunicable diseases steps survey prevalence of. Pdf khat chewing practice and associated factors among.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Poor academic performance has been associated with khat. In ethiopia, khat cultivation is expanding aggressively in recent years. Khat is an integral part of the agricultural systems of nearly all regions of ethiopia. Ezekiel gebissa offers a detailed study of the emergence of khat as a cash crop in harerge, in eastern ethiopia.
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