Transcript A Preliminary Review of the Social, Economic & Health

A Preliminary Review of the Social, Economic &
Health Effects Attributed to Khat Chewing of
Somali Community in Melbourne
Said Aden (Public Health Fellow -Victorian Public
Health Training Scheme-Department of Human
Services)
Malina Stankovska (Project Supervisor)--VTPU
Steven Klimidis-VTPU
Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit hosted the
project.
Department of Human Services
Purpose of the presentation :
To discuss the
results of a survey
conducted in Victoria
about the prevalence
of Khat use
Social and health
problem associated
with its use
International
literature
Khat plant
Methodology
Key informant interview was used:
Forty key informants were selected
The main roles of the key informants in
from Somali community on the basis of : the community were:
Their ability to contact a large
Advocacy
number of people from the community
Working with local community
Their involvement and knowledge of organisations
Somali community issues.
Providing advice
The survey included:
Employment/Welfare services
People of different ages, educational
Interpreting services
and occupational backgrounds.
20 males and 20 females were
interviewed.
Occupation of informants
occupation
Frequency
Percentage %
Community Development
Workers
7
17.5
Interpreters
7
1
17.5
2.5
3
2
4
7.5
5
10
4
1
10
2.5
11
27.5
Youth workers
Health promotion
Family Day Care Workers
Unemployed/Retired
Small Business
Health Officer
Students
Extensive use of Khat
How extensive is Khat use in your
community?
freq %
I don’t
know
1
2.5
A few
people
use it
7
17.5
Many
people
use it
32
80
Total
40
100
8o% of the respondents said
that many people among the
Somali community use Khat
Frequency of Khat use.
People who use Khat, how frequent is their use generally?
Frequency
Percent
I don't know
2
5.0
Once per month
1
2.5
Once per fortnight
3
7.5
Once per week
18
45.0
Several times per week10
25.0
Daily
6
15.0
Total
40
100.0
Majority of the respondents said that Khat
is used once per week.
Gender of Khat users
In your view, among the Khat users what proportion would be male and female?
Frequency
Percent
I don't know
1
2.5
Mainly male
19
47.5
More males than females
19
47.5
Equal proportion of males and females
1
2.5
Total
40
100.00
Khat use is more frequent among
the males.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Idon't know
Not concerned
ly
El
de
r
ul
ts
ad
O
ld
er
Y
ou
ng
ad
er
s
ul
ts
Little concerned
na
g
Te
e
Freq.of concern
How concerned are you about the age groups using Khat?
Age groups
Very concerned
What proportion of Khat users and their
families are affected financially by its use?
40
35
30
25
20
Minimal or not at all
15
Substantial or
moderate
10
5
0
Khat users
affected
financially
35 respondents out of 40 said that
Khat users are affected financially.
What do Khat users say
about the benefits of using
Khat ? (Benefits).
Benefits of using
Khat (from users’
perspective)
YES
(Frequency)
No
(Frequency)
Personal Benefits
31 (77.5%)
9 (22.5%)
Interpersonal
Benefits
27 (67.5%)
13 (32.5%)
Health Benefits
15 (37.5)
25 (62.5%)
No benefits
7 (17.5%)
33 (82.5%)
Others
3 (7.5%)
37 (92.5%)
What do you think are the
benefits of using Khat?
Benefits of Khat
(Key informants'
perspective)
Yes
No
Frequency/Percentag
e
Frequency)
Personal benefits
14 (35%)
26 (65%)
Interpersonal
Benefits
12 (30%)
28 (70%)
Health Benefits
12 (30%)
28 (70%)
No Benefits
20 (50%)
4 (10%)
20 (50%)
36 (90%)
Others
What do Khat users say are
the negative effects of using
Khat?
Difficulties associated with
Khat (from users)
Yes
No
Personal difficulties
21 (52.5%)
19 (47.5%)
Interpersonal relationship
difficulties
22 (55%)
18 (45%)
Work and education
difficulties
23 (57.5%)
17 (42.5%)
Financial problems
26 (65%)
14 (35%)
Health problems
19 (47.5%)
14 (35%)
No negative effects
6 (15%)
34 (85%)
Others
2 (5%)
38 (95%)
What do you think are the
negative effects of using
Khat?
From key informants’
perspective
YES
NO
Personal difficulties
Interpersonal relationship
difficulties
25 (62.5%)
29 (72.5%)
15 (37.5%
11 (27.5%)
Work and education
difficulties
29 (72.5)
11 (27.5%)
Financial problems
30 (75.5%)
27 (67.5%)
0 (0%)
10 (25%)
12 (30%)
40 (100%)
5 (12.5%)
35 (87.5)
Health problems
No side effects
Others
What is the effect of Khat on family
relationships between spouses?
Yes
No
Conflict/Argument/Di
ssociation
34 (85%)
6 (15%)
Interference with
roles and
responsibilities
34 (85%)
6 (15%)
Other
12 (30%)
28 (70%)
What is the effect of Khat on children
under the care of Khat users?
YES
NO
Negligent
36 (90%)
4 (10%)
Interference with
education
31 (77.5%)
9 (22.5%)
Interference with
socialisation
21 (52.5%)
19 (47.5%)
Others
4 (10%)
36 (90%)
Does using Khat affect
peoples’ health related
behaviour?
Health
behaviours
I don’t know
Less
More
Total
Sleep
7
(17.5%)
27
(67.5%)
6
(15% )
40
(100%)
Smoking
6
(15%)
6
(15%)
28
(70%)
40
(100)
Coffee and
tea
5
(12.5%)
6
(15%)
29
(72.5%)
40
(100%)
Unsafe
driving
11
(27.5%)
8
(20%)
21
(52.5%)
40
(100%)
After effects
(Fatigue)
7
(17.5%)
7
(17.5%)
26
(65%)
40
(100%)
Irritability
15 ((37.5%)
8 (20%)
17 (42.5%)
40 (100%)
Do the people in the community know that khat is
illegal in Australia except under permission for
personal use?
• 70% OF KEY
INFORMANTS
INDICATED THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS NOT
AWARE THAT KHAT IS
ILLEGAL IN AUSTRALIA
EXCEPT WITH
PERMISSION FOR
PERSONAL USE.
awar
e
30%
Not
awar
e
70%
Should there be a law to
discourage and prevent
people from using Khat?
• 72.5% of the key
informants
encouraged
legislation to prevent
people from using
Khat, while 27.5% of
the informants
disagreed.
INFORMATION ABOUT KHAT
Have you ever read any
information about Khat?
 YES: 25 (62.5%)
 No: 15 (37.5%)
Do you think the
community would
benefit from receiving
information about Khat?
 Yes : 35 (87.5%)
 No:
5 (12.5%)
What is the best way to
provide the community with
information about Khat?
Access to hotline:
Yes: 20%
Brochure:
Yes: 47.5%
Somali radio:
Yes: 60%
Internet:
Yes: 12.5%
Others
Yes: 12.5%
ANY SUGGESTIONS
Acknowledgment
Key informants
Malina Stankovska, A/Professor Harry
Minas, Steven Klimidis (VTPU)
Victorian Public Health Training
Scheme (Department of Human
Services)