Do You Chew? A Qualitative Study Exploring University Students’ Perceptions and Effects of Khat (Catha Edulis) in Kenya
Abstract
Khat is mostly grown in Eastern African countries as a cash crop. Although it has been linked to many health effects and anti-social behaviors – necessitating its control in many countries – khat is legal in Kenya. Founded on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study examines the perceived perceptions and effects of khat from the perspectives of the residents of khat-growing areas of Meru County in Kenya. Drawing from 15 in-depth interviews (men=11, women=4), the study’s data corpus were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings show five major themes in relation to the perceptions towards growing and consuming khat: source of income, symbol of freedom, identity of heritage, driver of development, and khat as a medicinal plant. On the effects, three themes emerged; school dropouts, health consequences, and violence associated with consuming the khat. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that khat is viewed as an important aspect of people’s identity and a major source of income, regardless of the negative effects associated with its consumption. Implications for the study are also discussed.
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