Authors:

Melanie Moreno

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Khat is a leafy green plant found in East Africa, chewed for its stimulant-like effects. It provides a primary source of income and holds a significant cultural role. In the Oromia region in Ethiopia, khat is heavily consumed and exported. Consumption is associated with mothers experiencing anemia, appetite suppression, and pre-term births. This cross-sectional study in the Oromia region of Haramaya, Ethiopia aims to assess khat use and influencing factors among pregnant women.Data was collected by trained health workers in Afan Oromo. The survey covered demographics, khat consumption, and khat perceptions. The quantitative data was analyzed through SPSS to include frequencies and logistic regression.444 pregnant women were enrolled with a median age of 25 years old. 66.9% of pregnant women reported consuming khat and 72.7% reported daily use. Khat chewing was significantly associated with women who lived in khat-producing households and women having an increased number of pregnancies.This recent study reveals a significant increase in khat consumption among pregnant mothers, rising from 15.5% in 2022 to 66.8% in 2023. This underscores concern that toxins may pass from pregnant women to infants during development, highlighting the potential health risks from khat consumption during pregnancy. 145

Source:

University of Florida / 2024

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Co-authors:

Melanie Moreno