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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417874
This article is part of the Research Topic An Integrative Proposal in Addiction and Health Behaviors Psychosocial Research: Overview of New Trends and Future Orientations View all 8 articles

Intention to Khat Chewing among Youths in Raya-Azebo District, Southern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Provisionally accepted
Abadi Hailay Atsbaha Abadi Hailay Atsbaha 1*Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen 2*Bezawit Ketema Dessie Bezawit Ketema Dessie 2*Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot 1*Hirut Teame Gebru Hirut Teame Gebru 1*Embay Amare Alemseged Embay Amare Alemseged 1*Yonas Angaw Yonas Angaw 1*Haftay Gebremedihin Haftay Gebremedihin 1*Fre Gebremeskel Fre Gebremeskel 1Hagos Degefa Hidru Hagos Degefa Hidru 1Zenawi Hagos Gufue Zenawi Hagos Gufue 1
  • 1 College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
  • 2 College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Khat chewing has become a global phenomenon, resulting in significant physical and mental health issues as well as socioeconomic crises. However, evidence is scarce on Ethiopian youths' behavioral intentions toward khat chewing, particularly in the Raya-Azebo district of the southern zone of the Tigray region. As a result, this study aimed to assess the intention to chew among youths in Raya-Azebo district, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 627 youths in northern Ethiopia's Raya-Azebo district. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. A multivariable linear regression model was used to predict the contribution of independent variables and identify variables strongly associated with chewing among youths. Results: A considerable proportion, 192 (30.62%) of youths, had the intention to chew khat in the next six months. The component of the theory of planned behavior independently explained the variance in intention to chew by 83%. The strongest predictors of intention to chew were attitude (β = 0.35, P<0.001), subjective norm (β = 0.297, P<0.001), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.15, P = 0.01). Conclusions: Behavioral intention toward khat chewing was a function of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control towards khat chewing. Strategies to empower youths to change a positive attitude toward khat chewing, programs targeted at resisting social pressures, and increasing self-efficacy to combat chewing are needed.

    Keywords: khat, Khat chewing, Youths, Intention, Theory of Planned Behavior, Raya Azebo, Ethiopia

    Received: 15 Apr 2024; Accepted: 28 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Atsbaha, Mekonnen, Dessie, Gebrehiwot, Gebru, Alemseged, Angaw, Gebremedihin, Gebremeskel, Hidru and Gufue. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Abadi Hailay Atsbaha, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
    Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    Bezawit Ketema Dessie, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
    Hirut Teame Gebru, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
    Embay Amare Alemseged, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
    Yonas Angaw, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
    Haftay Gebremedihin, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia

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