Khat chewing amongst UK resident male Yemeni adults: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
This cross sectional study recruited adult male Yemeni residents in Sheffield and Birmingham, UK, to assess their use of khat.


METHODS
Structured interviews were conducted in both areas during weekly khat chewing sessions. The data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, khat use, dependency on khat, psychological functioning of chewers (GHQ-12) and nicotine dependency. Patterns of khat use, dependency and psychological functioning were correlated with age and self-reported oral problems.


RESULTS
75 khat chewing volunteers (mean age 40.75 years) were interviewed. Average age of starting khat chewing was 17 years. The weekly amount chewed ranged from 0.25-3.0 khat bundles. Older respondents were more likely to be frequent chewers (p<0.025). 39% were assessed as dependent on khat, which correlated with frequency of use (p<0.041) and being in debt (p<0.046). Khat chewing correlated with nicotine dependence (p< 0.014). Self-reported oral problems correlated with both nicotine (p<0.04) and khat dependence (p<0.001). 93% reported that khat chewing promoted excessive smoking and 12% that this practice had initiated their tobacco use.


CONCLUSIONS
Khat chewing creates dependency and correlates with tobacco smoking and nicotine dependence. Further research should investigate the correlations between khat and nicotine dependence. Development of a specific measure of khat dependence is recommended.
Kassim
Saba
S
Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, UK.
Croucher
Ray
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D029754:Catha; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000145:classification; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012907:Smoking; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D015006:Yemen / Q000208:ethnology