Epidemiol Health.  2015;37:e2015009. 10.4178/epih/e2015009.

Oral symptoms significantly higher among long-term khat (Catha edulis) users in Ethiopia

• Astatkie A
• Demissie M
• Berhane Y
• Worku A

• KMID: 2380646
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015009

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.

Keyword

Khat; Catha edulis; Oral health; University; Students

MeSH Terms

Catha*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethiopia*
Humans
Mastication
Oral Health
Surveys and Questionnaires