Assessing the Impact of Khat Uses on Family Well-Being

Abstract

The current study sought to assess the impact of khat consumption on family well being in Mkinga district, Tanga. The study was guided by Genetic theory and Sensitization theory that explain the factors triggering khat use and potential impact to the consumer. Relevant empirical studies were reviewed as a synthesis where a research gap for the current study was drawn. The study adopted mixed researches approach in collection and analysis of data. A study population constituted all citizens in two wards of Duga aand Miyomboni which constituted a total number of 4609 citizens as per the 2022 national census. However, the targeted population was the household heads and the government officials responsible with community welfare and development. By using questionnaires and in-depth interviews, data were collected from 98 participants with different occupations. Quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS while content analysis for qualitative data. The study has found that khat is regularly consumed by the majority of male persons especially those who are employed in private operational activities in companies or industries and those employed practicing agriculture, fishing and other informal activities. Moreover, the study has found that there are several factors that triggers youth to use khat. The factors are khat to be consumed as a means of relaxing with friends, to reduce sleep and fatigue during night hours, and a result of drugs addiction. Moreover, the study that khat has been causing several social related problems that impacts family well-being negatively. The problems found were loss of money for family investment due to spending them in khat habit, loss of manpower for production due to health related problems, and separation of families. In line with the findings, a researcher provided the following conclusions. Firstly, in line with the current state of khat consumption, the study concludes that there is a high level of khat consumption at the area of the especially for youth generation. Second, in line with the factors triggering for khat consumption among the consumers in the area, the study concludes that users are triggered by unnecessary factor with irrelevant importance to them contrary to the way they believe. And lastly, the study has found that consistent with various literatures, the consumption of khat has many negative impacts to the consumer’s family well-being in the area of the study. Among others, the consumption has led to loss of much money that could be used for family issues hence poverty to some consumer’s families, continuous loss of man power due to health related problems, and family separation. In line with the study’s findings, a researcher recommends for the government through the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) to strengthen the management of transportation of khat especially in the border areas in order to discourage its importation. Moreover, the units for education provision on issues related to drug use is recommended to be established at the district level. This is expected to help the chewers who chew without knowing its impacts.