Smoking and Khat Chewing Among Yemeni Women in Aden Governorate

Abstract

Background: khat is a plant which is cultivated in Yemen and the horn of Africa. The small leaves are chewed by people for their stimulating effects. The mental and physical stimulating effects of khat chewing are due to the sympathemimetic substances in khat. The most important is cathinone. 
 Smoking is also an increasing health problem in Yemen. The aims of this study, therefore, are to determine the prevalence of khat chewing and smoking habit among Yemeni women in Aden governorate and to find the association between khat chewing and smoking. 
 Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted which involved 250 women from different sectors of society in Aden governorate. 
 Results: The study showed that the life time prevalence of smoking was 80% while both life time smokers and chewers was 100%. Thirty three percent (33% ) of the life time chewers and 32.7% of the life time smokers have duration of khat chewing and smoking from 10 to 19 years. 15.9% of the ever khat chewers and 19.6% of the ever cigarette smokers have had duration from 30 to 39 years. Also, the study shows that the habit of khat chewing is a very important risk factor in increasing the addiction of smoking with a frequency of 96.9% of smoking during khat chewing, compared to 3.3% of khat chewing without smoking. 
 Conclusion: The study demonstrated high prevalence of smoking and khat chewing among women in Aden governorate. Also, the study demonstrated the high prevalence of cigarette smoking among chewers.