School of Psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Harm Reduct J. 2023 Aug 26;20(1):115. doi: 10.1186/s12954-023-00858-y.
Khat is an amphetamine-like plant, produced and commonly chewed in Ethiopia by a large group of the population. Although significant multidimensional harms of khat use have been reported, currently, there are no policies or organized activities against khat use in Ethiopia. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the perception of key stakeholders toward khat policy approaches for Ethiopia.
A qualitative study was conducted using focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI). Ten stakeholders participated in the IDIs, and another 15 individuals participated in the FGDs. Key stakeholders were appropriately mapped and purposively selected based on their experience related to khat use and khat harm reduction. Interviews and FGDs were led by the study authors and were audio-recorded. The audio-recorded data were transcribed verbatim and then translated into English language. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis approach.
Participants preferred prevention and law regulation measures for khat policy approaches for Ethiopia. Proposed prevention and law regulation measures included regulating the transportation of khat, limiting the minimum age to buy and sell khat, prohibiting khat use at some public places, banning khat advertising and promotion, and imposing excise tax. Individual level khat harm reduction strategies were also proposed to be useful. However, the participants asserted that total khat ban in Ethiopia is not likely to be feasible and acceptable.
Prevention, treatment or care for individuals with problematic khat use, law regulation, and harm reduction were preferred approaches by stakeholders for khat policy in Ethiopia instead of total banning.
阿拉伯茶是一种类似安非他命的植物，在埃塞俄比亚被大量人群生产和普遍咀嚼。尽管已经报道了阿拉伯茶使用的多方面显著危害，但目前埃塞俄比亚没有针对阿拉伯茶使用的政策或有组织的活动。因此，本研究旨在探讨利益相关者对埃塞俄比亚阿拉伯茶政策方法的看法。
采用焦点小组讨论（FGD）和深入访谈（IDI）进行定性研究。10 名利益相关者参加了 IDI，另外 15 人参加了 FGD。根据他们与阿拉伯茶使用和减少阿拉伯茶危害相关的经验，适当映射和有针对性地选择关键利益相关者。访谈和 FGD 由研究作者主导，并进行录音。录制的音频数据逐字转录，然后翻译成英文。使用主题分析方法对数据进行分析。
参与者倾向于采取预防和法律监管措施作为埃塞俄比亚阿拉伯茶政策方法。提出的预防和法律监管措施包括规范阿拉伯茶的运输、限制购买和销售阿拉伯茶的最低年龄、禁止在某些公共场所使用阿拉伯茶、禁止阿拉伯茶广告和促销、以及征收消费税。个人层面的阿拉伯茶减少危害策略也被认为是有用的。然而，参与者断言，在埃塞俄比亚全面禁止阿拉伯茶不太可能可行和被接受。
预防、治疗或照顾有问题的阿拉伯茶使用者、法律监管和减少危害是利益相关者对埃塞俄比亚阿拉伯茶政策的首选方法，而不是全面禁止。
