A QUALITATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE COMPETENCIES OF WOMEN LIVING IN FAIFA MOUNTAINS TO HELP MEN FOR WITHDRAWAL OF CHEWING KHAT HABIT; JAZAN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, KSA

2 Family Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jazan, KSA

3 Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Jazan University, KSA

Abstract

Introduction For ages; people in Faifa Mountains (Jazan region, Kingdome of Saudi Arabia) cultivate Khat tree and the men chew their leaves. Many adverse effects are documented among men chewing Khat for a long time especially on the central nervous system, heart and liver due to the action of sympathetic - like substances that Khat contains. Till today in Faifa; there is no effective intervention that could replace Khat- chewing habit and leads to its withdrawal.                                                                                       Objectives: The goal of this study is to assess the competencies of women in their families to help men in withdrawal of Khat- chewing habit. This will be examined through the specific objectives to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of women towards Khat-chewing habit that practiced by men in their families.                                                                                                                                     Methodology: This research is designed to assess the competencies; knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of women in Faifa mountains towards Khat- chewing habit among the men in their families and its effect on the family social and economic status. It is performed according to qualitative research principles using in- depth interviews through semi- structured questionnaire. This study is performed on a purposive sample composed of 20 women above 15 years old having men chewing Khat in their families and residing in Faifa Mountains.                                                                                                                                   Results: The most prominent findings in this study are that 65% of the women believe that Chewing Khat is not forbidden. However, 95% of them are sure that there are adverse effects due to this habit summarized as liver and heart disease. Although 85% of the investigated women are looking for withdrawing this habit and described some interventions to stop this habit; 80% of them feel that they do not have a role in stopping this habit. Seventy percent of women believe that this habit neither affects the work, religious behaviour of men, the financial status of the family nor the social relationships. Ninety-five percent of women do not exert any effort to stop this habit for their men expecting the resistance of men. On the other side, 95% of them educate their children about the adverse effect of this habit as it is wrong to be practiced.                Conclusion: Although women realize the adverse effects of Khat chewing habit, they do not recognize it has any negative effect on their lives either socially or economically. However, they have a will to stop this habit among their men but do not exert a considerable effort for that, except giving some information to their children to avoid this habit. This may give place for further studies about how to stop the Khat chewing habit rather than influence of women on men in the Faifa Mountains

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