A cross-sectional study of psychopathy and khat abuse among prisoners in the correctional institution in Jimma, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Khat abuse and psychopathy are both strongly related to criminal activity. Higher rates of substance use in people with psychopathy are hypothesized to be related to psychopathic personality traits, which include high sensation seeking, low conscientiousness and neuroticism, impulsivity, and irresponsibility. Little is known, however, about the association between psychopathy and khat abuse among prisoners in Ethiopia. Therefore, we evaluated the presence of these two factors in prisoners in the correctional institution in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia. Materials and methods We used a cross-sectional study design to collect data from 336 prisoners from June 5 to July 5, 2017. Study participants were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Khat abuse was assessed with the Drug Abuse Screening Tool and psychopathy with the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version. We also assessed nicotine dependence with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence; alcohol use disorder, with the alcohol use disorder identification test; adverse traumatic life events, with the Life Events Checklist; and social support, with the Oslo 3-Item Social Support Scale. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed in bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Variables with a P value < 0.05 in the final fitted model were declared to be significantly associated with the outcome variable. Results The overall prevalence of lifetime khat use was 59.9%, and the prevalence of khat abuse in prisoners with psychopathy was 78.0%. Prisoners with psychopathy had a three times higher odds ratio of abusing khat than those without psychopathy (AOR = 3.00 [1.17-7.67]). Among the confounders, a family history of substance use (AOR = 2.50 [1.45-4.31]), poor

Problematic Khat Use Among Prisoners in Debre Berhan Prison, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study found that around one-third (28.5%) of the prisoners in Debre Berhan prison had PKU, before imprisonment. This is less than a prevalence reported from Jimm Prison studies which found that 44% and 60% of prisoners use Khat [8,50]. The difference is probably due to one of those studies used of different instruments was conducted only among homicide offenders [8].…”

“…DAST-20 is easy to administer and has been used in diverse populations. We used DAST in our study because, there is no measure developed or adapted for assessing PKU, and previous published studies in Ethiopia used DAST to measure problematic khat use [50,54].…”

“…However, we only found two studies conducted among prison population in Ethiopia [8,50]. The studies reported 44% of history of Khat use among homicide offenders [8], and 60% prevalence of Kat chewing among the general prisoners [50]. However, both of those studies were conducted in the same study site (Jimma town), which is a khat cultivating area unlike our study site (Debre Berhan town) where khat growing is not common.…”

“…On top of this, a case report from Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, showed that heavy Khat chewing may have a potential to induce major mental disorders (such as psychosis), and aggravate criminality [49]. However, we only found two studies conducted among prison population in Ethiopia [8,50]. The studies reported 44% of history of Khat use among homicide offenders [8], and 60% prevalence of Kat chewing among the general prisoners [50].…”

The Relationship Between Khat Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Prisoners with Life Time Trauma Exposure in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…29,30 The data presented in this paper were obtained from the study on psychopathy and associated factors among newly admitted prisoners in a correctional institution located in Bench Shako and West Omo zone correctional institution, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia. 27 Even though substance use disorder, association between alcohol and trauma, association between psychopathy and khat abuse, and psychopathy and associated factors among prisoners in Ethiopia were well established [31][32][33][34] up to date, the potential association between post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma exposure with problematic khat use among prisoners has not been investigated in our country Ethiopia, or elsewhere. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between life time trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder with khat use disorder among newlyadmitted prisoners in Bench Shako and West Omo zone correctional institution, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia.…”