Research Article
Perceived Psychological, Economic, and Social Impact of Khat Chewing among Adolescents and Adults in Nekemte Town, East Welega Zone, West Ethiopia
Table 2
Current khat chewing status and patterns among the study participants in Nekemte town, west Ethiopia, 2016.
| Variables | Characteristics | Frequency (%) |
| Current chewing experience | Nonchewers | 182 (51.4) | Chewers | 172 (48.6) |
| Chewing duration | ≤12 months | 48 (27.9) | 13–36 months | 53 (30.8) | >36 months | 71 (41.3) |
| Chewing frequency | Daily | 116 (67.4) | 4–6 times a week | 31 (18.0) | 2-3 times a week | 16 (9.3) | Once a week | 9 (5.2) |
| Time spent on single chewing ceremonies | 15–90 minutes | 58 (33.7) | 120–180 minutes | 85 (49.4) | >180 minutes | 29 (16.9) |
| Cost of khat for single consumption | 5–15 birr | 38 (22.1) | 16–25 birr | 52 (30.2) | 26–50 birr | 65 (37.8) | >50 birr | 17 (9.9) |
| Cost of khat per month | 10–100 birr | 14 (8.1) | 101–400 birr | 33 (19.2) | 401–600 birr | 54 (31.4) | 601–900 birr | 33 (19.2) | ≥901 birr | 38 (22.1) |
| Sugar use during chewing | Yes | 139 (80.8) | No | 33 (19.2) |
| Smoking during chewing | Yes | 74 (43) | No | 98 (57) |
| Coffee use during chewing | Yes | 111 (64.5) | No | 61 (35.5) |
| Alcohol use after chewing | Yes | 65 (37.8) | No | 107 (62.2) |
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