The magnitude of khat use and its association with health, nutrition and socio-economic status

Although the literature on khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is fairly extensive, a nd several authors have stated the potential-adverse effects of habitual us e of khat on mental, physical and social well-being, very few population ba sed studies exist to substantiate those statements in Ethiopia. A house-to- house survey of a representative sample of 1200 adults from a rural Ethiopi an community was conducted from January to September of 1997 to determine t he prevalence of khat use and its association with health, nutritional stat us, mental distress, substance use, family and social functioning and econo mic well-being. The current prevalence of khat chewing was found to be 31.7 %. Muslims more than Christians, males more than females, these between the ages 15 and 34 years more than other age groups were habitual users. The f ollowing factors were found to be significantly associated with khat use: p hysical illness, (OR=1. 52, 95% CI=1.14-2.02); injuries (OR=2.31,95%CI=1.42 -3.79), undernutrition (OR =1.76,95% CI = 1.24-2.48), mental distress (OR=8 .30,95% CI=5.20-13.31). Family functioning among current khat users was sig nificantly higher than non users (OR-56,95%-CI=1.04-2.28). Social functioni ng and economic well-being were not significantly associated with khat use. It is concluded that a fairly large proportion of the population consumes khat and that this is related to physical and mental ill-health, although f amily and social functioning, and economic well-being seem to be unrelated to khat use.