Hassen Mekdem Tesfamichael, Soboka Matiwos, Widmann Marina, Keller Lucas, Zeller Anja C, Büchele Natascha, Barnewitz Eva, Yitayih Yimenu, Schiller Sabine, Senger Jael, Adorjan Kristina, Odenwald Michael
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Front Public Health. 2021 Aug 19;9:645980. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.645980. eCollection 2021.
Khat () is a traditionally used substance in African and Arab countries that contains the amphetamine-like alkaloid cathinone. Khat use among Ethiopian students is a growing concern. This study aims to describe khat use, psychological problems, and motivation to change and to determine associated factors of khat use among students from Jimma University seeking psychological assistance. In a cross-sectional study, a sample of 717 students from Jimma University, southwestern Ethiopia, who seek assistance to reduce khat use were recruited. The study used Amharic and Afaan Oromoo language versions of common psychological instruments and employed them as part of a comprehensive tablet computer-delivered self-report assessment battery, comprising the SRQ-20, the PCL-5, the LEC-5, the AUDIT, and the SOCRATES-khat. In addition, socio-demographic, economic variables, and functioning problems due to severe mental disorders were assessed. The analysis relied on the data of the 575 included participants and used clinical cut-off values to describe this treatment-seeking sample and hierarchical regression models to determine variables associated with khat use. The sample showed high khat use in the past month ( = 31.55 bundles, = 28.53, on = 15.11 days, = 8.54); 17.0% showed highly problematic use. The sample was extremely burdened with comorbid psychiatric problems: 21.6% reported functioning problems due to past mental disorders, 60.2% scored above the cut-off for current common mental disorders, 37.9% screened positive for PTSD, and 47.1% reported hazardous alcohol use. Small to medium intercorrelations between variables were detected, and in hierarchical regression models, higher motivation to change khat use was associated with higher use of the substance. This study clearly shows the need to develop research instruments, screening methods, and assistance services for khat-using students at Jimma University. Study participants' high mental health burden shows the need for targeted intervention programs that go beyond brief interventions for khat use. Furthermore, the study highlights challenges for implementing such services: the barriers to utilization for females and khat users without comorbid mental health problems.
巧茶（）是非洲和阿拉伯国家传统使用的一种物质，含有苯丙胺类生物碱卡西酮。埃塞俄比亚学生中巧茶的使用情况日益受到关注。本研究旨在描述巧茶的使用情况、心理问题以及改变的动机，并确定寻求心理帮助的吉姆马大学学生中巧茶使用的相关因素。在一项横断面研究中，招募了717名来自埃塞俄比亚西南部吉姆马大学寻求帮助以减少巧茶使用的学生作为样本。该研究使用了阿姆哈拉语和奥罗莫语版本的常见心理测量工具，并将其作为通过平板电脑提供的综合自我报告评估电池的一部分，该电池包括SRQ - 20、PCL - 5、LEC - 5、AUDIT和SOCRATES - 巧茶。此外，还评估了社会人口统计学、经济变量以及严重精神障碍导致的功能问题。分析依赖于575名纳入参与者的数据，并使用临床临界值来描述这个寻求治疗的样本，使用层次回归模型来确定与巧茶使用相关的变量。样本显示过去一个月巧茶使用量较高（= 31.55捆，= 28.53，在= 15.11天，= 8.54）；17.0%的人显示出使用问题严重。样本因共病精神问题负担极重：21.6%的人报告因过去的精神障碍导致功能问题，60.2%的人当前常见精神障碍得分高于临界值，37.9%的人创伤后应激障碍筛查呈阳性，47.1%的人报告有危险饮酒行为。检测到变量之间存在小到中等程度的相互关联，在层次回归模型中，改变巧茶使用的动机越高，与该物质的使用量越高相关。本研究清楚地表明，需要为吉姆马大学使用巧茶的学生开发研究工具、筛查方法和援助服务。研究参与者的高心理健康负担表明需要有针对性的干预项目，而不仅仅是针对巧茶使用的简短干预。此外，该研究突出了实施此类服务的挑战：女性以及没有共病心理健康问题的巧茶使用者利用服务的障碍。
