Khat is a perennial cash crop which has psychoactive properties whose tender leaves are chewed for euphonizing effects. Although it is considered a normal social lubricant in some parts of the world, it is an addictive and dangerous substance that can cause anorexia, delusions, and heart attack. Review find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Prevalence of catha edulis khat chewing and its associated factors among ataye secondary school students in northern shoa, ethiopia abstract fulltext html xml download as pdf. Khat chewing issued at young age group in ethiopia. It is widely cultivated in the ethiopian highlands of oromia region and is figured as ethiopias second largest foreign exchange earner.
By the staff of the global legal research directorate. Moreover, the percentage of khat chewing among regions of ethiopia ranges from 1. Oct 03, 2014 chat catha edulis is an important perennial crop and its leaves are chewed for a stimulating effect. Not only top export earner it also plays a considerable role in. It is likely that some communities have been using khat either recreationally or as a spiritual aid for thousands of years. Its cultivation accounts for about 70% of farmers income in the study area. Jul 28, 2017 of khat and ethiopia khat users are young and simply, the most productive segment of the society in ethiopia. For a fuller discussion on khat in ethiopia, including health, economic and ecological considerations, see section 5. Subsequently, 18 studies were used for synthesis of. Prevalence and predictors of khat chewing among ethiopian. Khat is from a shrub that has been chewed for centuries by people from the horn of africa and arabian peninsula, including the uk, particularly from countries such as somalia, ethiopia and yemen. In ethiopia, khat chewing is becoming habitual and the proportion of people chewing khat has significantly risen over the years and chewers population in ethiopia is now 16% from the countrys population gebrie et al. Embassy in addis ababa, ethiopia, to organize a conference entitled khat and the ethiopian reality to discuss the social, political, agricultural and economic issues of khat as a cash crop for the country.
Khat chewing is a serious public health problem affecting millions of people in east africa and yemen. In ethiopia, a rehab centre takes on khat addiction. Pdf on oct 31, 2018, mekuria wuletaw and others published public discourse on khat catha edulis production in ethiopia. While ethiopias khat trade continues to expand, a growing number of countries around the world are criminalizing its sale and consumption. The following chart summarizes the legal status khat of catha edulis, also known as kat, qat, chat, and miraa, a plant whose leaves have. Among communities from the areas where the plant is native, khat chewing has a history as a. All studies conducted in ethiopia on khat chewing among students irrespective of time frame were included. Prevalence of catha edulis khat chewing and its associated. The chewing of khat leaves releases chemicals structurally related to amphetamines, which give the. Khat is an integral part of the agricultural systems of nearly all regions of ethiopia. Khat farming threatens food security, biodiversity.
The use of khat is an established cultural tradition for many social situations in the areas of primary cultivation. Khat is ethiopia s third largest export item next to coffee and gold national bank of ethiopia report, 20. The young and underemployed are increasingly chewing khat, a psychotropic leaf that has amphetaminelike effects. In a circumstance of land degradation and scarcity farmers consider khat as a better smallscale faming alternative. Currently it is a ubiquitous commodity cultivated and chewed. A study done on cigarette smoking and khat chewing among college students in north west ethiopia revealed. An article published in 1973 clearly showed that khat was replacing the high quality harrar coffee there, but its expansion in southern ethiopia as well as northern and western parts of the.
These separate studies reported that the prevalence of khat chewing in ethiopian university students ranged from 6. Almaweri 2017 khat has a sweet taste and an astringent action. Khat refers to the leaves and the young shoots of the plant catha edulis forsk, a species belonging to the plant family celastraceae. Prevalence and associated factors of khat chewing among atse. The cultural tradition of chewing khat, a leaf that is a mild narcotic, is on the rise in ethiopia. Chewing khat increasingly popular among ethiopians voice of.
Pdf khat chewing among ethiopian university students a. Khat is a plant grown in east africa and the arabian peninsula and is chewed for its stimulant effects. A gateway drug welday hagos, a clinical psychologist and director of the mekelebased centre ethiopia s only free, longterm drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility believes that khat is a gateway drug to harder substances. Proportion was calculated to estimate prevalence of khat chewing. 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. The term khat defines the leaves young and shoots of a flowering evergreen plant which is a species of the celastraceae family, known as cathaedulis. Khat can induce manic behaviors, hyperactivity, and hallucinations. Its young buds and tender leaves the main utilized part contain amphetaminelike psychoactive substances, which produce euphoria and stimulation 2. Graba, a dried form of khat that is similar in appear ance to marijuana, has been seized by kcpd. Prevalence of khat abuse and associated factors among.
People chew khat for a variety of reasons, these include. A selfadministered questionnaire was completed by 3268 students. Aug 28, 2019 it remains legal in ethiopia, where khat is even the second largest export post behind coffee, especially to djibouti and somalia. Khat is ethiopias third largest export item next to coffee and gold national bank of ethiopia report, 20. Of khat and ethiopia khat users are young and simply, the most productive segment of the society in ethiopia.
Poor academic performance has been associated with khat. Prevalence and associated factors of khat chewing among. A cross sectional study was conducted on bahir dar. Dec 18, 2019 the origins of khat use are unclear, although some experts believe that it began in ethiopia. Oct 22, 2019 mihretu 2017 a special gathering during which people chew khat is known as a khat session. Khat originated in ethiopia and spread out to kenya, somalia, djibouti, uganda, tanzania, zimbabwe, zambia, south africa, and yemen.
Khat cultivation in ethiopia fuels economy, reduces. Over the last decade khat cultivation has expanded to other regions of ethiopia, and has become an integral part of agriculture in the central and western highlands of ethiopia, as well, says kassa. Fears that ethiopian chewing leaf khat may cause psychosis. It has various negative physical, mental, social and cognitive effects. This drawing power is due partly to the comparative ease with which it can be studied in ethiopia, kenya, and other countries where it is legal, but mainly to the continuing fascination of a stimulant disdained by policy makers as a drug, yet embraced by hundreds of thousands of farmers from. This drawing power is due partly to the comparative ease with which it can be studied in ethiopia, kenya, and other countries where it is legal, but mainly to the continuing fascination of a stimulant disdained by policy makers as a drug, yet embraced by hundreds of thousands of farmers from yemen. Kebeles are the smallest administrative units with a. In many parts of ethiopia, khat catha edulis has emerged from an obscure. Prevalence and risk factors for khat use among youth students in. Contribution of khat kellas and the impacts of its closure to. Kassa echoes the findings of previous studies that have shown khat production and distribution now support the livelihoods of millions of ethiopians. Khat chewing is a public health concern in ethiopia. Although the investment case model cannot include data on khat, policy decisions on khat use should be considered in conjunction with those recommended in the investment case.
At least two dozen countries have listed khat as a controlled substance. In 2004, kansas city police department kcpd reported the emergence of a new form of khat within the somali community. In this study, prevalence of cigarette smoking was found to be 8. Ethiopia is the worlds largest producer of khat, which is the countrys fastest growing export. Khat catha edulis forsk, is a stimulant plant grown mainly in ethiopia, yemen and kenya. Khat chewing scam in addis ababa ethiopia visit my travel blog. Apr 30, 20 the cultural tradition of chewing khat, a leaf that is a mild narcotic, is on the rise in ethiopia. Several million people may currently be using khat worldwide. Epidemiology of khat catha edulis consumption among university. Khat chewing is a practice that dates back thousands of years in the horn of africa and the arabian peninsula where the khat plant is widely cultivated and known by a variety of names, including qaat and jaad in somalia, and chat in ethiopia.
Khat catha edulis is a plant with psychoactive prop. Chewing of the leaves of the plant khat catha edulis forsk is a common habit in some countries of east africa and the arabian peninsula. It is widely believed to enhance social interaction, playing a role in ceremonies such as weddings. Khat chewing practice and its perceived health effects among. Ethiopia khat is commonly used for social and religious purposes. It is widely cultivated in the ethiopian highlands of oromia region and is figured as ethiopia s second largest foreign exchange earner. Domestic consumption is also rising and particularly affects the student population of this country of more than 100 million inhabitants, says welday hagos, referring to several studies on the subject, including one. For ethiopias underemployed youth, life can center on a leaf. Assessment of khat catha edulis forsk world health organization. Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, a stimulant, which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite, and euphoria.
A farmer collecting khat in infranz, a village in the amhara region of ethiopia. As a recreational drug, the leaves and stem are chewed by people in east africa and the. It is native to eastern africa and southern arabia known by various names in different countries such as qat in yemen, eschat in ethiopia, and miraa in kenya. Currently in ethiopia the prevalence of substance use particularly. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with khat chewing among ethiopian university students. Khat chewing practice and associated factors among. 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. Somaliland spends about 524 million dollars a year about 30% of gross domestic product on. Mar 21, 2012 kassa echoes the findings of previous studies that have shown khat production and distribution now support the livelihoods of millions of ethiopians. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Although khat is used by different groups of the society, overstated prevalence of khat consumption marks to. The leaf and stem are used as a recreational drug and as medicine. Before beginnings of 21st century, only limited amount of khat was chewed in ethiopia for socialization and religious purpose.
In the traditional context, khat is used in ritual and habitual ways that exhibit its cultural embeddedness. Determinants of khat chewing among urban households of. Khat originated in ethiopia and spread out to kenya, somalia, djibouti, uganda, tanzania, zimbabwe, zambia, south africa, and. Khat chewing among ethiopian university students a growing. Pdf public discourse on khat catha edulis production in. Aug 20, 2002 khat is a cash crop which really benefits the khat growers, traders and the government. However, as far as the researchers knowledge little is known about the magnitude of khat abusing and their associated factors among university students in. The origins of khat use are unclear, although some experts believe that it began in ethiopia.
Mihretu 2017 khat sessions typically start in the afternoon and last several hours. It remains legal in ethiopia, where khat is even the second largest export post behind coffee, especially to djibouti and somalia. Khat, native to ethiopia, and the southern arabian peninsula is an evergreen shrub cultivated as a bush or small tree 1. Somaliland spends about 524 million dollars a year about 30% of gross domestic product on ethiopian khat many suspect the true figure to. Contribution of khat kellas and the impacts of its closure. Chat catha edulis is an important perennial crop and its leaves are chewed for a stimulating effect. The recent sharp increase in khat consumption may not only affect the health of individuals but could also have serious socioeconomic consequences.
Khat is chewed by an estimated 20 million population every day in the arabian peninsula and in. About a third of the production is exported to djibouti and somalia, but the. Khat use is a widely spreading public health problem affecting the most economically productive population areas in ethiopia. The khat farmer, trader, and majority of chewers are deeply tied to the leaves for historical, economic and cultural reasons. Prevalence, reasons, and perceived effects of khat chewing. Khat use among students has been linked with mental. It is a stimulant like amphetamine and the active ingredients, cathinone and cathine, are class c drugs. The following chart summarizes the legal status khat of catha edulis, also known as kat, qat, chat, and miraa, a plant whose leaves have a stimulant effect when chewed, in seven jurisdictions. Khat chewing among ethiopian university students a growing concern article pdf available in bmc public health 141. Not only top export earner it also plays a considerable role in the local economy, as it is a source. The law prohibits the exportimport of any plants and seeds that could be used in the manufacturing of illegal narcotics or for substance abuse, and also prohibits the sale, purchase, transport, possession, swap, and delivery of such plants. Although there are little or no research evidences are available to prove the economy would develop were it not for khat, the symptom of having a drug addicted young population is devastating to the political, social and economic fabric.
Although khat is used by different groups of the society, overstated prevalence of khat consumption marks to youth. Pdf prevalence of khat chewing and associated factors in. Khat is a cash crop which really benefits the khat growers, traders and the government. Khat is legal and generates more money per acre than any other crop in ethiopia. The east african nation is one of the worlds chief exporters of the crop, earning hundreds of. The pooled prevalence of current khat use was highest in saudi arabia 18. Ethiopia is thought to be the country of origin of khat use 5. While ethiopia s khat trade continues to expand, a growing number of countries around the world are criminalizing its sale and consumption. 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. Assessment of drug addiction and its associated factor among. Aside from alcohol, khat must now be the most researched psychoactive substance in africa. Factors affecting current khat chewing among male adults 15. A community based study, in jimma city, southwestern ethiopia.