title: Khat use in people living with HIV: a facility-based cross-sectional survey from South West Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Khat is an evergreen plant with leaves containing the amphetamine-like compounds cathinone and cathine. Many people in the Horn of Africa use khat on a regular basis. Adverse health and social consequences of khat use have been described but little is known about the use of khat in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of khat use and factors associated with khat use among PLHIV who are in contact with HIV services in a hospital in south-west Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 389 PLHIV who attended HIV services at Jimma University Specialized Hospital in September 2012. A structured questionnaire, translated into the local languages, was used to ask about the frequency of khat use and potential risk factors and consequences of khat use in this patient group. Logistic regression analysis was used for bivariate and multivariable analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of current khat use among people living with HIV was 23.0%. The prevalence was 18.3% in females and 33.6% in males. Christians were less likely to use khat when compared to Muslims (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 0.26, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.55). There was a positive association between khat use and mental distress (aOR 1.84, 95% CI = 1.01, 3.36), smoking cigarettes (aOR 21.21, 95% CI = 7.19, 62.51), alcohol use disorders (aOR 2.16, 95% CI = 1.10, 4.21), CD4 count ≤200 cells/mm(3) (aOR 3.46, 95% CI = 1.60, 7.50) and missing at least one dose of antiretroviral medication in the preceding month (ART) (aOR 4.2, 95% CI = 1.80, 5.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study there was a high prevalence of khat use among people living with HIV which was associated with poorer adherence to ART. There is a need to adapt and evaluate feasible and acceptable interventions to reduce khat use in people living with HIV.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethopia. matiwos2004@yahoo.com.
authors: Matiwos
authors: M
authors: Soboka
authors: Department of Psychiatry, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethopia. tesmarkos@yahoo.com.
authors: Markos
authors: M
authors: Tesfaye
authors: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethopia. garummatolu@yahoo.com.
authors: Garumma Tolu
authors: GT
authors: Feyissa
authors: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethopia. charlotte.hanlon@kcl.ac.uk.|Health Services and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK. charlotte.hanlon@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Hanlon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D029754:Catha; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult