Comparison of nutritional status and dietary intake among khat (Catha edulis) chewer and non-chewer women of reproductive age in Halaba Zone, South Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the nutritional status and dietary intake between khat chewer and non-chewer women of reproductive age in Halaba Zone, South Ethiopia.

DESIGN

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted.

SETTING

The study was conducted in Halaba Zone, South Ethiopia.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 792 (396 khat chewers and 396 non-chewers) women of reproductive age were selected by a simple random sampling technique from 20 June 2023 to 26 August 2023.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Dietary intake was assessed by a single 24-hour recall method. The nutrient adequacy ratio and mean adequacy ratio were applied to estimate the adequacy of micronutrients. Standing height was measured using a wall-mounted stadiometer to the nearest 0.1 cm, and weight of the women was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg on a battery-powered digital scale (Seca Gmbh & Co. KG, Germany). A linear regression model was fitted to determine the relationship between nutritional status and khat chewing. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds of nutrient intake inadequacy among the two study groups. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant at 95% CI.

RESULTS

Women who chewed khat had a higher prevalence of underweight (36.6%) than those who did not (9.4%). The mean (SD) body mass index for khat chewer women was 48.66±5.39 kg, while that of non-chewer women was 55.29±6.75 kg. Women who chewed khat were significantly more likely to be underweight than those who had never chewed khat (β = -1.91, 95% CI -2.30 to -1.53; p<0.001). The analysis revealed that out of the nine nutrients assessed, the intake of seven nutrients was significantly lower in khat-chewer women compared with non-chewer women. Women who chewed khat were more likely to have inadequate carbohydrate (AOR=2.05 (95% CI 1.31 to 3.21), p<0.01), protein (AOR=2.18 (95% CI 1.51 to 3.14), p<0.001), thiamine (AOR=4.25 (95% CI 2.72 to 6.63), p<0.001), riboflavin (AOR=4.02 (95% CI 2.48 to 6.50), p<0.001), niacin (AOR=2.34 (95% CI 1.59 to 3.45), p<0.001), vitamin B (AOR=2.79 (95% CI 1.79 to 4.36), p<0.001), calcium (AOR=2.22 (95% CI 1.55, 3.18), p<0.001) and zinc (AOR=3.57 (95% CI 1.92 to 6.61), p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Women who chewed khat were significantly more likely to be underweight compared with those who had never chewed khat. Khat chewers were more likely than non-chewers to have inadequate carbohydrate, protein, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B, zinc and calcium intake. Public health interventions aimed at improving the nutritional status of women of reproductive age should develop strategies to address the spread of khat-chewing habits.