Abstract

Objectives: the purpose of this study was to assess’ intention to stop Khat chewing and associated factors among khat chewers in Dessie city, North eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dessie city by using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The sample size for quantitative was 840 and cluster sampling method was used to select the study participants. Three FGDs and five in depth interviews were conducted for the qualitative part of the study.

Result: Out of the total participants, 68.47% had intention to stop khat chewing at least within the next six months. Majority of the study participants 44.7% were on preparation stage, 23.7% were on contemplation stage and the rest 31.54% were on pre contemplation stage. Participants in high dramatic relief process of change were 4 times more likely to have intention to stop Khat chewing than their counterparts, [P=0.004 AOR=4.1(1.5-11.0] and Individuals who had medium consciousness raising score were 2.6 times more likely to have the intention to quit Khat chewing than individuals with low consciousness raising score, [AOR=2.7, (95% CI: 1.1-6.6)].

Conclusion and recommendation: Majority of the Khat chewers had the intention to stop Khat chewing. Thus, stage based interventions should be done to motivate Khat chewers to stop chewing

Keywords: Intention to stop, Khat chewers, Factors, Transtheoretical model, Dessie city