Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior
BackgroundKhat 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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417874/full |
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| author | Abadi Hailay Atsbaha Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen Bezawit Ketema Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot Hirut Teame Gebru Embay Amare Alemseged Yonas Angaw Haftay Gebremedhin Fre Gebremeskel Hagos Degefa Hidru Zenawi Hagos Gufue |
| author_facet | Abadi Hailay Atsbaha Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen Bezawit Ketema Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot Hirut Teame Gebru Embay Amare Alemseged Yonas Angaw Haftay Gebremedhin Fre Gebremeskel Hagos Degefa Hidru Zenawi Hagos Gufue |
| author_sort | Abadi Hailay Atsbaha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundKhat 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsA considerable proportion, 192 (30.62%) of youths, had the intention to chew khat in the next 6 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).ConclusionBehavioral intention toward khat chewing was a function of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control toward 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-98960a22584e41789aadf497a6614ea8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-98960a22584e41789aadf497a6614ea82025-01-07T06:49:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14178741417874Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behaviorAbadi Hailay Atsbaha0Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen1Bezawit Ketema2Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot3Hirut Teame Gebru4Embay Amare Alemseged5Yonas Angaw6Haftay Gebremedhin7Fre Gebremeskel8Hagos Degefa Hidru9Zenawi Hagos Gufue10Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, EthiopiaBackgroundKhat 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsA considerable proportion, 192 (30.62%) of youths, had the intention to chew khat in the next 6 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).ConclusionBehavioral intention toward khat chewing was a function of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control toward 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417874/fullkhatkhat chewingyouthsintentiontheory of planned behaviorRaya Azebo |
| spellingShingle | Abadi Hailay Atsbaha Adugnaw Berhane Mekonnen Bezawit Ketema Tigist Haile Gebrehiwot Hirut Teame Gebru Embay Amare Alemseged Yonas Angaw Haftay Gebremedhin Fre Gebremeskel Hagos Degefa Hidru Zenawi Hagos Gufue Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior Frontiers in Public Health khat khat chewing youths intention theory of planned behavior Raya Azebo |
| title | Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_full | Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_fullStr | Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_short | Intention to khat chewing among youths in Raya-Azebo district, southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_sort | intention to khat chewing among youths in raya azebo district southern zone of tigray ethiopia application of the theory of planned behavior |
| topic | khat khat chewing youths intention theory of planned behavior Raya Azebo |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417874/full |
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