Oral symptoms significantly higher among long-term khat (Catha edulis) users in Ethiopia.
- Author:
Ayalew ASTATKIE
1
;
Meaza DEMISSIE
;
Yemane BERHANE
;
Alemayehu WORKU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Khat; Catha edulis; Oral health; University; Students
- MeSH: Catha*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia*; Humans; Mastication; Oral Health; Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Epidemiology and Health 2015;37(1):e2015009-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Associations between khat (Catha edulis) chewing and different adverse oral-dental health conditions have been reported, yet evidence is still lacking. This study was designed to investigate the association between long-term regular khat chewing and self-reported oral symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1,255 university students in southern Ethiopia. Data on khat chewing status, a range of oral symptoms and other pertinent variables were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The association between long-term regular khat chewing and oral symptom count was investigated using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: The mean oral symptom count among long-term regular khat chewers was 1.75 (standard deviation [SD], 2.18; standard error [SE], 0.31), whereas that among those who were not long-term regular khat chewers was 1.18 (SD, 1.68; SE, 0.10). After adjustment for other variables, long-term regular khat chewers had approximately 50% more oral symptoms than those who were not long-term chewers did (adjusted count ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 2.10). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term khat chewing negatively affects the oral health of young university students.
