Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 921 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Jul 15;24(1):1887. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19357-1.
Khat, a naturally growing stimulant, has seen a significant increase in both consumption and cultivation in eastern Ethiopia. This reliance on khat in the region comes despite its known physiological complications, with users unable to restrict khat use due to its pervasive impact on their livelihood. This qualitative study sought to understand the meaning that those in eastern Ethiopia attribute to khat and explore their firsthand experiences with the substance. In June and July of 2023, six unstructured interviews were conducted among residents of the Haramaya District in Ethiopia. To promote a holistic comprehension of the participants' lived experiences, an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was employed when collecting and analyzing the data. Participant responses were coded independently from one another by two different researchers identifying superordinate and corresponding subordinate themes. Among the participants, six superordinate themes were captured: economic backbone of the region, market disruption & fluctuation, pesticide use, societal relationships around khat, applications of khat, and access to healthcare. The participants' responses indicated that the normalization of khat use, coupled with the downplaying of its addictive potential, has established a framework where khat consumption is not only allowed but, in some cases, even encouraged. The unique interplay between communal practice and individual preservation creates a cyclical effect of using khat to supplement energy to farm khat and then sell or stimulate further work on their farm. This study illuminates the transitionfrom what was once the traditional or spiritual use of khat, to a more practical use for ensuring economic livelihood.
阿拉伯茶，一种天然兴奋剂，在埃塞俄比亚东部的消费和种植都显著增加。尽管已知其对人体的生理影响，该地区仍严重依赖阿拉伯茶，而用户无法限制阿拉伯茶的使用，因为它对他们的生计有着普遍的影响。这项定性研究旨在了解埃塞俄比亚东部地区的人们对阿拉伯茶的看法，并探索他们对这种物质的第一手体验。在 2023 年 6 月至 7 月期间，在埃塞俄比亚哈拉马亚地区对居民进行了六次非结构化访谈。为了全面理解参与者的生活体验，在收集和分析数据时采用了解释现象学分析方法。两位不同的研究人员对参与者的回复进行了独立编码，确定了上位和相应的下位主题。在参与者中，有六个上位主题：该地区的经济支柱、市场混乱和波动、农药使用、围绕阿拉伯茶的社会关系、阿拉伯茶的应用和获得医疗保健。参与者的回复表明，阿拉伯茶使用的正常化，以及对其成瘾潜力的淡化，已经建立了一个框架，在这个框架中，不仅允许而且在某些情况下甚至鼓励消费阿拉伯茶。公共实践和个人保护之间的独特相互作用，形成了一个循环效应，即用阿拉伯茶补充能量来种植阿拉伯茶，然后出售或刺激他们在农场的进一步工作。这项研究揭示了从曾经的传统或精神用途向更实用的用途转变，以确保经济生计。
