Prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
Khat (Catha edulis) is commonly chewed for its psychostimulant and euphorigenic effects in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Students use it to help them study for long hours especially during the period of examination. However, how regularly khat is chewed among university students and its associated factors are not well documented. In this article we report on the prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia.


METHODS
We did a cross-sectional study from May 20, 2014 to June 23, 2014 on a sample of 1,255 regular students recruited from all campuses of Hawassa University, southern Ethiopia. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. We analyzed the data to identify factors associated with current regular khat chewing using complex sample adjusted logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of current regular khat chewing was 10.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.1%-14.9%). After controlling for sex, religion, year of study, having a father who chews khat, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in the adjusted logistic regression model, living off-campus in rented houses as compared to living in the university dormitory (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] =8.09 [1.56-42.01]), and having friends who chew khat (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] =4.62 [1.98-10.74]) were found to significantly increase the odds of current regular khat use.


CONCLUSIONS
Students living outside the university campus in rented houses compared to those living in dormitory and those with khat chewing peers are more likely to use khat. A multipronged prevention approach involving students, the university officials, the surrounding community, and regulatory bodies is required.
School of Public and Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Ayalew
A
Astatkie
Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Meaza
M
Demissie
Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yemane
Y
Berhane
Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ; School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Alemayehu
A
Worku
current regular khat chewing; living arrangement; peer pressure; university students