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https://doi.org/10.5671/ca.44.2.3

Prevalence and Health Adverse Effects of Khat Chewing Among College Students in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Ehab Y. Elbendary ; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ashraf A. Hassan ; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Samia F. Salem ; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saif Elden Abdalla ; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Martina Smolić ; Faculty of Dental Medicine & Health and Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia


Puni tekst: engleski pdf 371 Kb

str. 81-86

preuzimanja: 532

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Sažetak

Khat chewing is a social habit which has stimulatory action due to its cathinone content, but its adverse effects on health are a source of growing concern. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence and health adverse effects of khat chewing among students in Jazan region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study sample included 195 students from Applied Medical Science College, who were randomly selected and were asked through questionnaire and with a signed consent. About 5 ml of venous blood was collected in plain vacutainer tubes from 38 khat chewers and 20 non khat chewers as normal control. Serum was used to determine alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and direct bilirubin, total protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid, and albumin. The sample consisted of 134 males
and 61 females, with age range 19-27 years, and their mean age was 21.1 year. 40% of students were from urban area, and 81.5% of them from Jazan region. Out of 195 students, only 38 (19.5%) were found to chew khat. Biochemical results revealed highly significant differences among chewers in ALT, ALP, uric acid, and urea (p<0.005) compared to nonchewers group. There is also a significant difference in the total protein level (<0.05), while no significant differences were noticed in other biochemical traits analyzed. We concluded that the prevalence of khat chewing among students is fairly high (19.5 %), and that adverse effects of khat chewing on health are very clear, so all efforts should be contributed to solve this problem by increasing awareness of all members of the society to khat chewing risk.

Ključne riječi

Khat chewing, prevalence, health adverse effects, college students

Hrčak ID:

240416

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/240416

Datum izdavanja:

2.7.2020.

Posjeta: 1.127 *