Prevalence of under Nutrition and Associated Factors among Khat Chewers in Khat Chewing Shops at Gulalle Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

There is studies limitation regarding the effect of khat chewing on nutritional status. Community based comparative cross-sectional study had been conducted from March to June, 2015; with cluster sampling and systematic random sampling techniques for khat chewers and non-khat chewers respectively. The data was collected by using interview administered questionnaire, observation and weight scale measurement among 504 study participants. The study revealed that from entire khat chewers 52(20.5%) of them and of non-khat chewers 34(13.5%) of them were underweight. Khat chewers were 2.102 times more likely underweight compared to those non-khat chewers. khat chewers who had meal twice per day were 2.856 time more likely underweight. Khat chewers who used animal and animal products as their main meal component daily were 0.413 times less likely to be underweight; Whereas the odds of underweight was 26% times less likely among khat users who intake two liters of fluid per chewing session. In other case, those who chewed khat for 2-3 hours per session were 0.231 times less likely to be underweight. Under nutrition is a public nutritional status problem in which khat chewers are more affected. Khat chewing conditions and meal conditions including amount of fluid consumed per chewing session are factors that affect the nutritional status of the khat chewers. Minimizing amount of khat consumed per session, shortening of khat chewing session length and increasing amount of fluid intake more than two liters per chewing session and nutritional management with nutritionist advices are important points.

Determinants of undernutrition among khat chewing and non-khat chewing male adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

“…The findings from this study revealed that the overall prevalence of undernutrition among adult males was 27.5%. This finding was in line with the studies conducted in Gulalle sub-city, Addis Ababa 29 , Chiro district, eastern Ethiopia 16 , and Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia 5 . The similarity of the findings could be due to the similarity in the study area and participant population.…”

“…Those adults whose vegetable and fruit intake were below the optimum were more likely to be undernourished as compared to those who were taking optimum fruits and vegetables. This was comparable with the studies conducted in Addis Ababa and eastern Ethiopia 16 , 29 . The reason behind this might be that adults with low intakes of vegetables and fruit may not get adequate nutrients in their diets that meet the increased nutrient requirements, which in turn results in undernutrition due to depletion.…”

“…On the other side, the khat consuming population has a poor appetite, limited economic productivity, and poor self-care practices that predispose them to poor intake and increased vulnerability to illnesses 26 – 28 . As revealed by another previous study, khat chewing could increase the risk of undernutrition by twofolds where 20.5% and 13.5% of khat chewers and non-chewers were undernourished, respectively 29 . A modest effect of khat chewing on stunting among adolescents was also indicated 30 .…”

“…Frequent consumption of these foods has been associated with undernutrition and vitamin deficiencies by providing excess calories while lacking important micronutrients. This coupled with reduced appetite and poor nutrition further exacerbates the nutritional disturbances 29 .…”

Undernutrition and associated factors among incarcerated people in Mizan prison institute, southwest Ethiopia

“…Chat chewing was measured considering both life time chewing duration (measured in year) and time spent in a single chewing session (measured in hour). Participants who used chat for more than five years and chewed for more than four hours in a single chewing session before they were incarcerated were considered as chat chewers [ 27 ].…”