Abstract

DETERMINATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF KHAT CHEWING AMONG STUDENTS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL IN JAZAN CITY, SAUDI ARABIA

*Abduarhim Othman Boker Agili, Ibrahim Wali Ali Hakami, Taher Ahmed Abu Rajeh Kariri, Ali Jaber Essa Alhagawy, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Majrashi, Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Abdulfattah

ABSTRACT

A cross sectional study was carried out among 375 high school male students in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia using a self-administered questionnaire. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and associated factors of Khat chewing among students of the high school in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia and to study its impact of on students’ academic performance. The age of the students ranged between 15 and 21 years with a mean (SD) of 17.4±1.2 years. The life time and current prevalence of Khat chewing were 48.8% and 33.9%, respectively. Students ages over 18 years were at almost 2.5-fold risk to chew Khat compared to those ages 17 year or less (OR=2.44, 95%, CI=1.12-5.33, p=0.026). Approaching half of the students living in rural areas (45.8%) compared to 29.1% of those living in urban areas chewed Khat and the difference was statistically significant (OR=0.49, 95%, CI=0.27-0.90, p=0.021). Regarding reasons for continuing Khat chewing, 49.6% of the students claimed that Khat increased their energy where as 36.2% and 27.6% of them reported that it increased alertness and concentration and made them feel refreshed, respectively. Students whose fathers or brothers were Khat chewer were more significant likely to chew Khat compared to those whose fathers were not Khat chewer (OR=3.57, 95%CI=1.98-6.46, p<0.001; OR=4.11, 95%CI=2.28-17.64, p<0.001), respectively.

Keywords: Khat chewing, adolescence, academic performance.