Assessment of the Effects of Khat Consumption on the Health of the Non School Going Youths in Daynile District, Mogadishu-Somalia

The study was to assessing the effects of khat on health. The major objectives were to determine the effects of Khat consumption among the non school going youth case study in Daynile District, Mogadishu, Somalia. Therefore this study was focused Non school going youth in Daynile District. The specific objectives were, To determine the level of Khat consumption among non school going youth, to identify the reasons of Khat use among non school going youth and to determine effect of Khat consumption on the Health and socio- economic status of non school going youth in Daynile District, Mogadishu, Somalia. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study with both quantitative and qualitative, data collected using questionnaire, key informant and observational checklists on a sample size of 107 respondents. Results Majority of the respondents (68.2 %) were male as compared to females who were only 31.8 %. The results indicate that most of the youth in the study sample were aged between 26-29 years (38.3 %) followed by those between 18-25 years (37.4 %) and then those between 30-35 (11.2 %). Only 13.1 % were above 35 years. This indicates that most of the respondents in the sample were in their early adulthood age (20 - 39). The results also indicate that more than 75 % of the youth were in their 20s or below. There was a significant relationship between Khat consumption with heart problems (p=000) and also there is a significant relationship between the frequency of use and heart problems. When asked how often they participate in growing and selling of Khat, majority indicated that they do not do so, an indication that they are mainly consumers and not dealers, save a few (25 %). Recommendations Khat use is found to be present in most local communities of Somalia and so this substance should be included in local generic substance misuse education and prevention initiatives. Khat use should be declared unacceptable by the commissioner of culture in the country. This is to prevent those people who promote Khat use hiding in culture and showing that it is a custom to which people should stick. It is recommended that there is a need for Local authorities, police and crime commissioners to discourage the consumption of Khat in the community and to declare it as illegal for consumption, production and trade. Special licenses need to be given for those few individuals who may be allowed to grow Khat needed for other purposes