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Khat Chewing and Its Associated Factor among College Students in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia

Received: 6 September 2013    Accepted:     Published: 30 October 2013
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Abstract

Background: - Khat is a large green shrub that grows at high altitude in the region extending from eastern to southern Africa, as well as on the Arabian Peninsula. Khat is widely consumed among the youth of Ethiopia; especially among high school, College and University students. Khat chewing is the risk of frequently absenteeism from class and poor academic performance of the students. Moreover, it has serious health, social and economic consequence. However, information on prevalence and its associated factor is scarce in the study area. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the prevalence of khat chewing and its associated factor among College students in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Methods: - School based cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2012 among 754 College students in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Data were collected using pre-tested structured facilitator guided self administered questionnaire. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select students for the survey. The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered on to EPi-Info version 3.5.2 Statistical package soft ware. Data were exported to SPSS version 16 program for analysis. The proportion of youth reported khat chewing was computed. Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with khat chewing. Result- the overall prevalence of khat chewing in College students was 146 (19.6%). The factors associated with khat chewing were being male [Adjusted OR =5.88, 95% CI = (3.18, 10.87)], having pocket money [Adjusted OR =3.42, 95% CI = (2.04, 5.76)], urban residence [Adjusted OR =4.09, 95% CI =(2.38, 7.01)], peer pressure [Adjusted OR =13.16, 95% CI =(6.89, 25.17)], and parental model [Adjusted OR =4.28, 95% CI =(1.96, 9.35)]. Conclusion -The prevalence of khat chewing was high among College students in the study area. Factors that significantly affect the habit of khat chewing were identified. Colleges and health Bureau should design and implement audience specific behavioral change communication about consequence of khat chewing to prevent and avert students khat chewing practice.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 1, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14
Page(s) 209-214
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Khat, Youth, College Students, Ethiopia

References
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    Yeshalem Mulugeta. (2013). Khat Chewing and Its Associated Factor among College Students in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia. Science Journal of Public Health, 1(5), 209-214. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14

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    ACS Style

    Yeshalem Mulugeta. Khat Chewing and Its Associated Factor among College Students in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 1(5), 209-214. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14

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    AMA Style

    Yeshalem Mulugeta. Khat Chewing and Its Associated Factor among College Students in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia. Sci J Public Health. 2013;1(5):209-214. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14,
      author = {Yeshalem Mulugeta},
      title = {Khat Chewing and Its Associated Factor among College Students in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {1},
      number = {5},
      pages = {209-214},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20130105.14},
      abstract = {Background: - Khat is a large green shrub that grows at high altitude in the region extending from eastern to southern Africa, as well as on the Arabian Peninsula. Khat is widely consumed among the youth of Ethiopia; especially among high school, College and University students. Khat chewing is the risk of frequently absenteeism from class and poor academic performance of the students. Moreover, it has serious health, social and economic consequence.  However, information on prevalence and its associated factor is scarce in the study area. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the prevalence of khat chewing and its associated factor among College students in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Methods: - School based cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2012 among 754 College students in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Data were collected using pre-tested structured facilitator guided self administered questionnaire. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select students for the survey.  The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered on to EPi-Info version 3.5.2 Statistical package soft ware. Data were exported to SPSS version 16 program for analysis. The proportion of youth   reported khat chewing was computed. Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with khat chewing. Result- the overall prevalence of khat chewing in College students was 146 (19.6%). The factors associated with khat chewing were being male [Adjusted OR =5.88, 95% CI = (3.18, 10.87)], having pocket money [Adjusted OR =3.42, 95% CI = (2.04, 5.76)], urban residence [Adjusted OR =4.09, 95% CI =(2.38, 7.01)], peer pressure [Adjusted OR =13.16, 95% CI =(6.89, 25.17)], and parental model [Adjusted OR =4.28, 95% CI =(1.96, 9.35)]. Conclusion -The prevalence of khat chewing was high among College students in the study area. Factors that significantly affect the habit of khat chewing were identified. Colleges and health Bureau should design and implement audience specific behavioral change communication about consequence of khat chewing to prevent and avert students khat chewing practice.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Khat Chewing and Its Associated Factor among College Students in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia
    AU  - Yeshalem Mulugeta
    Y1  - 2013/10/30
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 209
    EP  - 214
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130105.14
    AB  - Background: - Khat is a large green shrub that grows at high altitude in the region extending from eastern to southern Africa, as well as on the Arabian Peninsula. Khat is widely consumed among the youth of Ethiopia; especially among high school, College and University students. Khat chewing is the risk of frequently absenteeism from class and poor academic performance of the students. Moreover, it has serious health, social and economic consequence.  However, information on prevalence and its associated factor is scarce in the study area. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the prevalence of khat chewing and its associated factor among College students in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Methods: - School based cross-sectional survey was conducted in May 2012 among 754 College students in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Data were collected using pre-tested structured facilitator guided self administered questionnaire. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select students for the survey.  The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered on to EPi-Info version 3.5.2 Statistical package soft ware. Data were exported to SPSS version 16 program for analysis. The proportion of youth   reported khat chewing was computed. Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with khat chewing. Result- the overall prevalence of khat chewing in College students was 146 (19.6%). The factors associated with khat chewing were being male [Adjusted OR =5.88, 95% CI = (3.18, 10.87)], having pocket money [Adjusted OR =3.42, 95% CI = (2.04, 5.76)], urban residence [Adjusted OR =4.09, 95% CI =(2.38, 7.01)], peer pressure [Adjusted OR =13.16, 95% CI =(6.89, 25.17)], and parental model [Adjusted OR =4.28, 95% CI =(1.96, 9.35)]. Conclusion -The prevalence of khat chewing was high among College students in the study area. Factors that significantly affect the habit of khat chewing were identified. Colleges and health Bureau should design and implement audience specific behavioral change communication about consequence of khat chewing to prevent and avert students khat chewing practice.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Medical and Health Science College, Bahir Dar University, P.O.Box.79, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

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