Asfaw Likawunt Samuel
Hosanna College of Health Sciences, Department of Health Information Technology, Hosanna, Ethiopia.
Oman Med J. 2023 Jan 31;38(1):e461. doi: 10.5001/omj.2023.46. eCollection 2023 Jan.
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of habitual chewing of khat () on blood pressure, body mass index, and physiological aspects of sexuality among residents of an Ethiopian town.
A statistically determined and randomly selected sample of khat-chewing individuals in the town of Hosanna in Southern Ethiopia were included in the study. We used physical measurements and a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data, which was statistically analyzed.
The participants comprised a total of 420 with mean age = 28.7±5.7 years; 336 (80.0%) were male. Nearly half (201; 47.9%) were in the age-group 30-34 years. The adverse effects of khat use were assessed from the median score of each outcome, namely, physical problems, abuse potential, and social effects. Having a score above the median on each of the three target outcomes was equated with the presence of adverse effects. Adverse effects were reported among 341 of 420 (81.2%) participants, of whom 277 of 341 (81.2%) were male and 64 of 341 (18.8%) were female. The reported adverse effects were significantly higher among those who co-used tobacco, coffee, or tea with khat, with adjusted odds ratio = 4.8; CI: 2.86-8.22.
Khat chewing was found to have a significant adverse effect on the health of individuals who indulged in it. This finding implies the need for urgent intervention from health authorities.
本研究旨在评估习惯性咀嚼巧茶对埃塞俄比亚某城镇居民血压、体重指数及性生理方面的影响。
纳入埃塞俄比亚南部霍桑纳镇经统计学确定并随机选取的咀嚼巧茶人群样本。我们通过体格测量和自行填写问卷收集数据，并进行统计学分析。
参与者共有420人，平均年龄 = 28.7±5.7岁；336人（80.0%）为男性。近一半（201人；47.9%）年龄在30 - 34岁组。从每个结果的中位数得分评估巧茶使用的不良影响，即身体问题、滥用可能性和社会影响。在三个目标结果中每个结果得分高于中位数等同于存在不良影响。420名参与者中有341人（81.2%）报告有不良影响，其中341人中有277人（81.2%）为男性，64人（18.8%）为女性。同时使用烟草、咖啡或茶与巧茶的人群中报告的不良影响显著更高，调整后的优势比 = 4.8；置信区间：2.86 - 8.22。
发现咀嚼巧茶对沉溺于此的个体健康有显著不良影响。这一发现意味着卫生当局需要紧急干预。
