Encuesta para clientes Subaru

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Khat consumption on the wellbeing of families in Meru County. Social health aspects are important

components of families’ wellbeing, especially when associated with substance use.

The literature related to Khat consumption has revealed that Khat has been used and accepted by consumers’ as a recreational substance (Anderson, 2007). While this

view still holds in some areas in Africa and elsewhere (Patel, 2005), the practice has

been associated with considerable social harms such as family breakdown

(Sundhedsstryelsen, 2009; Turning, 2004), violence and excessive spending

(Milanovic, 2008), which has been reported as being problematic to the families’

Findings of the study in Table 4.7 indicated that Khat consumption was mostly associated with peer influence and passing time. According to the social learning

theory, behaviour is learnt in a social environment through observational modeling

(Newman & Newman, 1999).

4.7.1 Recent Past Experience in Relation to Khat Consumption

The study probed to find out how much Khat consumers have experienced such things as lack of sleep, depended on medication, felt confident, had difficulties in

performing their routine duties, worried about getting enough money to sustain Khat consumption, fulfillment of sexual needs after consuming Khat, noise in the area where they consumed Khat and whether they had difficulties performing their routine activities due to consumption of Khat. The findings are shown in Figure 4.5.

Source: Field data

Figure 4.5: Recent Past Experience in Relation to Khat Consumption

Findings in Figure 4.5 show that over one third 39.5% of the respondents did not

lack sleep, much after consuming Khat. This finding is inconsistent with that of (Griffiths, 1998 and Kalix, 1984) who found that, Khat chewing banishes sleep and promotes communication, hence keeping the consumer awake. This contradiction is

due to the difference in the amount of Khat consumed as indicated by the approximate amount of money spent by the Khat consumers. The finding is

inconsistent with the finding of the study done by Zeleke et al. (2013) who reported

that Khat consumers had sleeping disorders and depressive symptoms.

Figure 4.5 shows that over two fifths 47.3% did not rely much on medication after

consuming Khat. This finding is inconsistent with (Alem & Shibre, 1999; Asha, 2012) who reported adverse health-related effects associated with Khat chewing such as nutrition and unhygienic practices which negatively impacted on human

health. The finding is consistent with Klein, (2008) and AMCD, (2013) who reported

that Khat chewing is associated with ant-social behaviours such as noise and moderate smoking of cigarettes, which the study associated with little health-related

issues. Similarly, Kabede (2000) reported a significant association of Khat chewing with physical illness (OR= 1.52) and mental distress (OR= 8.30) among habitual

Khat consumers.

In addition, the study found in Figure 4.5 that, over two fifths 47.2% of the

respondents felt much confident after consuming Khat. However, Khat is a stimulant, thus this finding is not a surprise, besides it concurs with Belew, Hoffman

& Al Absi, (2010); Kassim, Islam, & Croucher (2010) who reported elevated self-

esteem by Khat consumers. This finding explains why the respondents also participated in Khat related activities to enhance their economic status. Regarding their sexual needs fulfillment, less than two fifths 36.4% of the Khat consumers were not much fulfilled sexually. This finding is inconsistent with Hoffman & Al' Absi

(2010) who reported increased libido among Khat consumers. Similarly, over two fifths 47% reported that they were not much affected by the noise in their

consumption areas and over two fifths 43.6% did not worry much about getting

spread availability of Khat for consumption. This view is shared by Kassim et al. (2006 ) who cited Khat as a recreational substance which was readily available in Yemeni.

Figure 4.5 further shows that over two fifths 49.1% of the respondents did not have

much difficulties in performing their routine activities due to Khat consumption. This finding is inconsistent with Hussein & Areely (2008); Kalix (1987) who

reported low productivity and loss of working hours respectively as a result of

consumption of Khat. The following null hypothesis was stated and tested, to establish whether there was a relationship between Khat consumption and the social wellbeing of consumers’ families.

H03 There is no relationship between Khat consumption and Consumers level of education.

The variable used to measure Khat consumption were hours spent chewing and the social wellbeing aspects was measured using consumer’ level of education. The

Table 4.15: Model Summary Mo- del R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the

Estimate Change Statistics

R Square Change F Change df1 df2 Sig. F Change 1 .163 .027 .025 1.973 .027 15.950 1 581 .000

Source: SPSS Regression Output

Table 4.15 shows the model summary and overall fit statistics. The adjusted R2 of

our model is 0.025 with the R2 =0.027 this means that the linear regression explains

2.7% of the variance in the data. This indicates that the model accounts for 2.7%

explanation as to the extent in which Khat consumption influences the social wellbeing aspects of families. The analysis of variance results are show on Table

4.16.

Table 4.16: Analysis of Variance Results

Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F Sig. Regression 62.064 1 62.064 15.950 .000 Residual 2260.738 581 3.891 Total 2322.803 582

Source: SPSS Regression Output

Results in Table 4.16 indicates that the predictor variable is significant because it

has a p-value is 0.000 which is less than the common alpha level of 0.05.This

between Khat consumption and consumers’ education status. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. This finding is consistent with Aden, Dimba, Ndola and

Chindia, (2006), who reported general low levels of education among Khat consumers’ in North Eastern parts of Kenya. It was deemed important to have a

model summary and analysis of variance with a wellbeing model shown below.

4.8 Analysis of the Effects of Khat Consumption on Consumers and their