Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing during Pregnancy in Yemen: Findings from a National Population Survey

Aims This study examines the prevalence of khat chewing among women during pregnancy and some of the risk factors for this habit in Yemen. Methods Survey data on 7,343 ever-married women from the Yemen Demographic and Maternal and Health Survey (YDMHS), conducted in 1997 are used. Women who had a live birth during the 5 years preceding the survey were asked if they chewed khat during each of their pregnancies (=1) or not (=0). Associations between chewing khat and socio-demographic risk factors were assessed using odds ratios from binary logistic regression models. Results About 40.7% of women surveyed reported chewing khat while pregnant during the 5 years before the survey. Old age, no education, rural residence, living in mountainous regions, and low wealth were significant risk factors for chewing khat. Conclusions Khat chewing during pregnancy is highly prevalent in Yemen. Socio-economically disadvantaged women were more likely to chew khat than other women.