The Political Impact of Chewing Khat (Chat) on Chewers: In the Case of Woldia City Administration of North Wollo, Amhara National Regional State

The main aim of this study was to investigate the political impact of chewing khat on the chewers in Woldia City Administration of North Wollo, Amhara National Regional State. As far as the researcher's reading, no research was conducted in Ethiopia dealing with the political impact of chewing khat on chewers. Accordingly, this study was conducted using qualitative methods of data collection. Semi-structured in-depth interview, focus group discussion (FGD), and complete observation were employed during data collection. The study used phenomenology design and the findings were analyzed thematically. The study found that khat chewers’ political unconsciousness, utopian involvement in politics, and fail in conspired politics were associated with khat chewing practices. Based on this findings, the researchers recommend that awarness creation about the anxiety of khat in political life is in need.

Designing Public Health Policy to Curb Health and Economic Impact of Khat Chewing

Introduction and Background: Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) known for long period as an indigenous plant to Ethiopia, has many mixed effects and impact. Some consider it as a good means to socialize. Others consider it as a good source of income. Nowadays, as a result of its effect on health, public health concern is growing. However, there are no policies controlling these khat effects. Objective: To present policy option to curtail health and economic impact of khat chewing practice in Ethiopia. Methods: Narrative literature review was made to look into different effects of khat chewing with a particular reference to Ethiopia. Key findings khat chewing has stimulating, euphoric and addictive effects. It has a constricting effect on blood vessels leading to hypertension. It has also neuropsychiatric and physical consequences including aggression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, paranoia, manic behaviors, insomnia, depression, increased heart rate, anorexia and weight loss, dental and pulmonary problems. Additionally, khat abuse found linked to liver damage and failure. Conclusion: Given that medical risks of khat use are modest, or studies are not conclusive, there should be a regulatory framework with the objective of protecting consumers and community. This is best achieved by establishing processes for the quality control of khat and by regulating access and availability. Conclusive studies are very rare and even some are inadequate and contradictory. Most of the evidences on adverse effects of khat come from case reports and observational studies. Therefore, high quality research is justified.

Khat Chewing and Lipid Profile in Human and Experimental Animals

Background. Catha edulis, also known as khat or qat, is a plant that grows in East Africa and southern Arabia. Several millions of people chew the leaves and twigs of khat plant for their central stimulating amphetamine-like effects. Khat chewing is becoming more common in Europe and the United States, owing to worldwide migration. Objective. This review examines the khat ingredients, global prevalence, and legal status as well as its effects on lipid profile. Methodology. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to collect information within articles published up to April 2021 with the goal of identifying relevant studies. The proposed mechanisms of cathinone effects on total cholesterol and triglyceride were also discussed. Conclusion. The khat chewing habit is considered as a serious economic and health issue that needs specialized programs to assist those people to quit or reducing this habit.

The Liminal Leisure of Disadvantaged Young People in the UK Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic has created, exposed and exacerbated inequalities and differences around access to—and experiences and representations of—the physical and virtual spaces of young people’s leisure cultures and practices. Drawing on longstanding themes of continuity and change in youth leisure scholarship, this paper contributes to our understandings of ‘liminal leisure’ as experienced by some young people in the UK before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this, we place primary pre-pandemic research on disadvantaged young people’s leisure spaces and practices in dialogue with secondary data on lockdown and post-lockdown leisure. Subsequently, we argue that existing and emergent forms of youth ‘leisure liminality’ are best understood through the lens of intersectional disadvantages. Specifically, pre-existing intersectional disadvantages are being compounded by disruptions to youth leisure, as the upheaval of the pandemic continues to be differentially experienced. To understand this process, we deploy the concept of liminal leisure spaces used by Swaine et al Leisure Studies 37:4,440-451, (2018) in their ethnography of Khat-chewing among young British Somali urban youth ‘on the margins’. Similarly, our focus is on young people’s management and negotiation of substance use ‘risks’, harms and pleasures when in ‘private-in-public’ leisure spaces. We note that the UK government responses to the pandemic, such as national and regional lockdowns, meant that the leisure liminality of disadvantaged young people pre-pandemic became the experience of young people more generally, with for example the closure of night-time economies (NTEs). Yet despite some temporary convergence, intersectionally disadvantaged young people ‘at leisure’ have been subject to a particularly problematic confluence of criminalisation, exclusion and stigmatisation in COVID-19 times, which will most likely continue into the post-pandemic future.

Determinants of dental caries among adolescent patients attending Hospitals in West Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia: A case-control study

Background Dental caries is a prevalent disease in both developed and developing countries and is a public health problem among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the determinants of dental caries among adolescent patients in the west Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based unmatched case-control study design was conducted in West Wollega Zone, West Ethiopia. A total of 133 cases and 266 controls participated in this study. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires from three hospitals. Epi-info version 7 was used for data entry and was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Frequency, proportion, mean and standard deviation were computed to summarize the data. Statistics are presented using tables and bar graphs. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the determinants of dental caries at P < 0.05. The adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of association between the predictors and dental caries. Results A total of 399 adolescents were enrolled in this study, yielding a response rate of 100%. The study found that, daily consumption of sugared coffee (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI:1.62, 5.23), khat chewing (AOR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.46, 3.15), daily consumption of bread (AOR = 2.65, 95%CI: 1.44, 4.89), daily consumption of sweet foods (AOR = 2.04, 95%CI:1.19, 3.48), living in urban areas (AOR = 1.86, 95%CI:1.09, 3.15), and daily tooth brushing using toothpaste or stick (AOR = 0.48;95%CI, 0.28, 0.81) were significantly associated with dental caries among adolescents. Conclusions and recommendations In this study, drinking sugared coffee, daily consumption of bread, khat chewing, sugary food consumption, living in urban areas, and daily tooth brushing using toothpaste were significantly associated with dental caries. Therefore, improving dietary and drinking habits and strengthening regular tooth brushing are important for reducing dental caries among adolescents.

Predictors of Poor Quality of Life among People Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral therapy in Jimma zone Public Hospitals, South West Ethiopia: A Mixed-method Study.

Background: Given the benefits of ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) for people living with HIV/AIDS, their quality of life continues to impair. Moreover, several studies have been investigated the magnitude of quality of life among developed countries with a paucity of behavioral and psychosocial factors. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify predictors of poor quality of life among people living with HIV on ART in Jimma Zone Public Hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based case-control study triangulated with a qualitative method was employed. The sample size was determined using Epi-info 7.1.1 using the ratio of 1:3 cases to controls. A simple random sampling technique was conducted to select cases and controls. Data were entered into Epi-Data and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Qualitative data were collected from purposely selected key informants and analyzed manually. The study was conducted from March 10 to April 30, 2018.Results: a total of 81(25.1%) cases and 242(75.9%) controls were included in the study. Those PLWHA who chew Khat occasionally (AOR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.01,17.8) and at weakly intervals (AOR: 6.3, 95% CI:2.0, 20.7), Stigmatism(AOR: 9.2; 95% CI:3.5, 24.3), severe depression(AOR: 16.1; 95% CI:5.2, 49.6), fair baseline ART adherence (AOR: 10.4; 95% CI:2.4, 44.8), poor baseline ART adherence (AOR: 6.4;95% CI:2.0,20.7), baseline WHO stage III, IV(AOR4.9,95%CI:2.0,11.5), current WHO stage III,IV (AOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 13.5), current BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (AOR 2.37 95% CI (1.00, 5.62) and recent low hemoglobin level <12.8 mg/dl (AOR: 4.1; 95% CI:1.7, 9.7) were independently associated with poor quality of life. Key informant interviews identified that financial and food insecurity, stigma and discrimination, poor adherence, and side effect were the predictors that affect the quality of life.Conclusion: Multiple predictors of poor quality of life have been identified from the quantitative and key informant interviews. Khat chewing frequency (occasionally and weekly), stigma, depression, baseline drug adherence, duration on ART(less than 36 months), baseline WHO stage III/IV, Current WHO III, IV, being underweight in the current BMI, most recent hemoglobin level below 12.8mg/dl, including financial and food insecurity, stigma and discrimination, poor adherence and side effect from key informant interview. Therefore, effective interventions should be targeted by incorporating responsible bodies towards boosting the quality of life of PLWHIV by emphasizing avoiding behavioral factors like khat chewing, alcohol, shisha. Counseling and guidance on treatment adherence and follow-up should be done. Continuous awareness creation, dietary diversity, and modifications and guide on income-generating activities.

Chewing Khat Habit among Students of Dire Dawa University Ethiopia

Chewing Khat is one of the leading causes of mental disorders in Ethiopia. An alarming increase in Khat chewing among adults since the early 1990s was reported. Studies have shown that starting chewing Khat early in life is associated with an increased risk of adverse health effects. The objective of the study: This study was conducted to measure the increase in Khat chewing among students at Dire Dawa University students in Dire Dawa City, identify the natural causes of the problem, and demonstrate students' knowledge of the effects of Khat chewing. Material and Methods: The study was separate. Dated February 2021. Students during study time (n = 302) were included. The information was collected through personal interviews and completed a list of questions prepared after reviewing. RESULTS: Male (88.2%) of responding students chewed Khat with a significant difference (P <0.001) between males and females in terms of chewing. The year of student study, academic achievement, and family history of chewing Khat had a significant impact (P <0.05) on chewer students. Of the Khat chewer students who read 35.6% reported chewing both morning and afternoon. 66.7% of students who chewed reported that they had intentions to stop chewing and 82.4% considered chewing to be dangerous. CONCLUSION: Khat chewing gum among students is considered a problem and efforts are needed to help students stop chewing and this is considered a way to prevent Khat chewing among students.

Oral and Skin Lesions Among Yemeni Khat Abusers While Chewing and After Quitting：Crosse-Sectional Survey

Background: Khat chewing is a routine practice in Yemen. Associations between Khat chewing and various adverse oral-dental health conditions have been recorded, however, adverse skin health evidence is still lacking. Objective: To investigate the difference between oral and skin symptoms and signs while chewing Khat and after quitting chewing among Yemeni khat abusers. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 300 Yemeni Khat ex-chewer participants in china. Khat chewing status data, a range of oral and skin symptoms and signs, and other pertinent variables were collected using self-administered questionnaires by WeChat. The mean differences between oral and skin symptoms and signs while chewing Khat and after quitting chewing were investigated using the Paired Samples t-test. Result: Of the 300 Yemeni who participated in the study, 255(85%) were men and 45(15%) were women. The oral symptoms and signs mean while chewing was 0.26, 0.022 (standard deviation [SD], whereas that after quitting chewing Khat was 0.10 (mean), 0.269 (standard deviation [SD], t (12.00), P=0.00. The skin symptoms and signs mean while chewing was 0.13, 0.28 (standard deviation [SD], whereas that after quitting chewing Khat was M=0.06, 0.21(standard deviation [SD], t (9.407), P=0.00. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant difference between the mean oral and skin symptoms and signs while chewing and after quitting, whereas long-term Khat chewing negatively affects oral and skin health.

Khat Chewing and Relapse in Peoples With Serious Mental Illness At Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital: Comparative Study

Background people with serious mental illness using illicit drug exhibit poorer outcomes. But until now little is known about the impact of khat in thiss patient group. This study tried to assess the effect of khat chewing on relapse in people with serious mental illness. Method This is cross sectional comparative study involving 405 khat chewers and 400 non chewer people with serious mental illness. The study took three month involving interview (patient and care giver) and chart review. The study used Oslo Social Support Scale; Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test and questionnaire which include sociodemographic characteristics, illness related factors and relapse history. Result The study found that prevalence of relapse was higher in khat chewes than in non chewers (22% Vs 13%, p = 0.001) in people with serious mental illness. Additionally, the prevalence of relapse was also increased as the risk from use of khat was increased. In the khat chewer group previous hospitalization histories and presence of stressful life situation were the factor associated with relapse. On the otherhand treatment interruption, sleep disorder and previous hospitalization were the factors associated with relapse in non khat chewer people with serious mental illness. Conclusion Khat chewing poses additional burden for the already debilitating disease. Patient care should consider khat chewing as one of the components for intervention.