Research Article
Khat Chewing and Associated Factors Among Elementary School Early Adolescent Students in Eastern Ethiopia: Multicenter Cross-sectional Study
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2025
Pages:
27-39
Received:
17 January 2025
Accepted:
16 June 2025
Published:
14 July 2025
Abstract: Background: Khat chewing practices are common in the Arabian Peninsula and in Eastern Africa, including Ethiopia. Khat chewing is popular among adolescents in Ethiopia. However, there are no studies on the practice of Khat chewing among early adolescents in school children in the eastern part of the country, where the majority of khat in the country is produced and exported. Objective: This study aimed to assess khat chewing and associated factors among early adolescent school children in Haramaya district from September 1 to 30, 2023. Methods and Materials: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Haramaya District from September 1 to 30, 2023. A total of 592 early adolescent school children were selected sampling technique with simple random sampling. Trained data collectors collected data structured questionnaires. The data were entered into EpiData version 4.6. The data were then exported to the SPSS version 23 statistical package for further data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistical tests and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of Khat chewing among early adolescents. The level of significance was set at a P value of less than 0.05. Results: The current prevalence of khat chewing was 38.9% (CI: 34.0%-42.1%). Among the studied variables, male sex [AOR=2.47; 95% CI: (1.61-3.86)], peer pressure [AOR=3.67; 95% CI: 2.45-5.40)], easy availability of khat [AOR=1.95; 95% (1.01-3.78)], and living with khat chewers [AOR=7.48; 95% CI: (4.60-12.16)] were significantly associated with current khat chewing practices. Conclusion: Khat chewing is prevalent among early adolescents in elementary school in the study area. The factors most strongly associated with khat chewing were male sex, peer pressure, living with khat chewers and easy availability of khat. The findings suggest the need to create public awareness among the community, particularly for adolescents and their parents.
Abstract: Background: Khat chewing practices are common in the Arabian Peninsula and in Eastern Africa, including Ethiopia. Khat chewing is popular among adolescents in Ethiopia. However, there are no studies on the practice of Khat chewing among early adolescents in school children in the eastern part of the country, where the majority of khat in the countr...
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Research Article
Prediction of the Immunodeficiencies in the Restriction of the Fetal Growth
Adrian Ruiz Lopez*
,
Vicente Jose Hernandez Moreno
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2025
Pages:
40-45
Received:
8 July 2025
Accepted:
18 July 2025
Published:
7 August 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.sjcm.20251403.12
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Abstract: Introduction: Birth weight has historically been used as an indicator to assess fetal growth, and newborns below the 10th percentile for a given gestational age have generally been associated with poor outcomes. Current knowledge about the functional capacity of the immune system in the first weeks of life highlights the importance of infections as one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Objective: To identify risk factors for the onset of immunodeficiency in births with restriction of the fetal growth at the Mariana Grajales Gynecological-Obstetric Hospital in the municipality of Santa Clara, Villa Clara province, from January 2016 to December 2023. Material and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was carried out in births with restriction of the fetal growth at the Gynecological-Obstetric Hospital of the municipality of Santa Clara, Villa Clara province, from January 2016 to December 2023. The universe was made up of 44 patients. Results: The main risk factor was a history of admission, which represented 56% of the total, followed by not breastfeeding, which in turn represented 40% of the total cases analyzed. Conclusions: It is important to understand the risk factors for the development of immunodeficiency, as well as the warning signs, in order to understand the mechanism of its onset and prevent conditions from leading to the underlying cause.
Abstract: Introduction: Birth weight has historically been used as an indicator to assess fetal growth, and newborns below the 10th percentile for a given gestational age have generally been associated with poor outcomes. Current knowledge about the functional capacity of the immune system in the first weeks of life highlights the importance of infections as...
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