Effects of Khat Chewing Behaviours on Health Outcomes among Male Khat Chewers in Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia

Khat is found in the evergreen tree or large shrub, consists of whole fresh leaves and buds of a plant known as Catha edulis. It is an indigenous tree to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen and more than 20 different compounds are fund in khat. Cathinone, which is the main active ingredient in Khat leave, is responsible for the pharmacological properties of Khat. Bahir Dar is a city that three percent of Ethiopia’s total production of khat is originated from. There is no community based study that has been done in Bahir Dar city to determine effects of khat chewing behaviours on self rated oral health status and risk on elevated blood pressure. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of Khat chewing behaviors on oral health status and blood pressure on chewers. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2013 among chewers of Bahir Dar city. A total of 422 male khat chewers were included in study, 422 respond to the questioners, giving a response rate of 100%. The study found that the mean age of participants with standard deviation was 30.31 ± 1.39 years old. Sixty two percent of participants reported oral health problems and started khat chewing at early age. Started khat chewing at early age was found to be statistically significantly associated with self rated oral health problem (AOR: 2.85, CI 95%:1.26-6.45). Frequent chewers were 7.58 times more likely to be affected by self rated oral health problem compared to those who chewed less frequently (AOR: 7.58,95%CI:3.53-16.27). Chewers who chewed more than or equal to 100gms of khat per session were 4.33 times more likely to be affected by oral health problem compared to those who chewed less amount (AOR: 4.33, 95%CI: 2.49-7.53). As for the time period spent for Khat session, those who spent more than 6 hours in a khat session were 7.25 times more likely to have elevated systolic blood pressure compared to those who spent less than 6 hours, (AOR :7.25; 95%CI: 4.03-13.05). It was also found that those who spent more than 6 hours in a khat session were almost 9 times more likely to have elevated diastolic blood pressure compared to who spent less than 6 hours (AOR:8.99,95%CI:4.85-16.66).The risk of elevated systolic blood pressure was more than 5.26 times more likely among male chewers who reported increase amount of khat chewing compared to who reported decrease the amount in last 12 months, (AOR:5.26:95% CI: 2.76-10.15) and the risk of elevated diastolic blood pressure was more than 7 times more likely among chewers who reported increase amount of khat chewing in the last 12 months (AOR:7.25,95%CI:3.66-14.38).