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The Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing on Blood Pressure among Male Adult Chewers, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia

Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Khat is found in the evergreen tree or large shrub, consists of whole fresh leaves and buds of a plant known as Catha edulis. 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 risk to elevated blood pressure. Therefore, this study aimed to assess effect of khat chewing on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2013among chewers of Bahir Dar city for determine effect of khat chewing on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A structured questioner and medical measuring equipments were used to collect socio-demographic data, khat chewing behaviours and levels of physiological parameters. A total of 422 male khat chewers were included in study, 422 respond to the questioners, giving a response rate of 100%. The multivariate analysis result shown that the figure of having elevated systolic blood pressure among male chewers who chewed frequently was fourteen times more compared to who chewed less frequently (AOR:14.95,95%CI:5.49-40.66). The analysis result also revealed that 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 those who spent less than 6 hours (AOR:8.99,95%CI:4.85-16.66). As for amount of khat chewed in the last 12 months, 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 those who reported decrease the amount in the last 12 months, (AOR:5.26:95% CI: 2.76-10.15). Similarly, the risk of elevated diastolic blood pressure was more than 7 times more likely among male chewers who reported increase amount of khat chewing compared to those who reported decrease amount of khat chewing in last 12 months (AOR:7.25,95%CI:3.66-14.38). According to the study result explained above, it is possible to conclude that khat chewing behaviours have significant effect on blood pressure.
DOI: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2091955440
FWCI: 1.473
Cites: 31
Cited by: 21
Related to: 10