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dc.contributor.authorYoung, JT
dc.contributor.authorButt, J
dc.contributor.authorHersi, A
dc.contributor.authorTohow, A
dc.contributor.authorMohamed, DH
dc.date.accessioned2019-03-28T23:29:03Z
dc.date.available2019-03-28T23:29:03Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.identifier.issn1937-1888
dc.identifier.doi10.15288/jsad.2016.77.343
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/142788
dc.description.abstractObjective: The identification of khat dependence and the association between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health problems have not been quantitatively described in Australia. The current study aimed to describe khat dependence, use patterns, and khat-related health problems in Australian migrant communities. Method: A 48-item questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 52 participants from African migrant communities who self-reported using khat in four Australian state capital cities between April 1 and June 1, 2012. Associations between Severity of Dependence Scale for khat use (SDS-khat) screening status, use patterns, and khat-related psychological and physical health problems were assessed using multivariate log-linked Poisson regression controlling for potential sociodemographic confounders. Results: Overall, 44.2% (n = 23) of the study participants screened positive on the SDS-khat, indicating probable khat dependence. Screening positive for khat dependence was associated with increased risk for khat use frequency in the last 30 days (adjusted prevalence risk ratio [APRR] = 2.26, 95% CI [1.23, 4.15], p = .009), experiencing three or more psychological health problems (APRR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.04, 3.36], p = .037), and experiencing two or more physical health problems (APRR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.13, 3.27], p = .016) after using khat. Conclusions: Screening positive on the SDS-khat is associated with increased recent khat use frequency and elevated physical and psychological health problems, providing preliminary evidence that probable khat use dependence may be associated with an increased risk of harm in Australia. Furthermore, these preliminary results support the potential utility of the SDS-khat to healthcare providers to identify those at risk for khat-related harms. Further investigation into the relationship between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health outcomes is warranted.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherAlcohol Research Documentation
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom343
dc.relation.ispartofpageto348
dc.relation.ispartofissue2
dc.relation.ispartofjournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
dc.relation.ispartofvolume77
dc.subject.fieldofresearchHealth services and systems
dc.subject.fieldofresearchPublic health
dc.subject.fieldofresearchPsychology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchOther psychology not elsewhere classified
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode4203
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode4206
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode52
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode529999
dc.titleKhat Dependence, Use Patterns, and Health Consequences in Australia: An Exploratory Study
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorHersi, Abdi M.


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