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

Received: 18 August 2014     Accepted: 1 September 2014     Published: 20 September 2014
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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.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23
Page(s) 461-468
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Khat Chewing, Health Outcomes, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia

References
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    Bizuayehu Walle Birhane, Muluken Walle Birhane. (2014). The Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing on Blood Pressure among Male Adult Chewers, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(5), 461-468. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23

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    Bizuayehu Walle Birhane; Muluken Walle Birhane. The Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing on Blood Pressure among Male Adult Chewers, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(5), 461-468. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23

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    AMA Style

    Bizuayehu Walle Birhane, Muluken Walle Birhane. The Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing on Blood Pressure among Male Adult Chewers, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(5):461-468. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23,
      author = {Bizuayehu Walle Birhane and Muluken Walle Birhane},
      title = {The Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing on Blood Pressure among Male Adult Chewers, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5},
      pages = {461-468},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140205.23},
      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.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing on Blood Pressure among Male Adult Chewers, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia
    AU  - Bizuayehu Walle Birhane
    AU  - Muluken Walle Birhane
    Y1  - 2014/09/20
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 461
    EP  - 468
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140205.23
    AB  - 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.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Medical physiology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

  • Medical physiology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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