Neonatal parameters and placental weight in khat-chewing mothers in Jimma

ABSTRACT

Effect of khat chewing during pregnancy on delivery outcome was studied in 100 pregnant women who chewed khat during their pregnancies in comparison to 100 consecutive pregnant women who never chewed khat as controls. All women who delivered at Jimma Hospital; Ethiopia; between May; 1996 to February 15; 1997 were included in the study. Data including birth weight; length; head circumference; placental weight and Apgar score were collected immediately after delivery. Interestingly; a decrease was found regarding all the parameters in the neonates born to khat chewer mothers when compared to those born to non-chewer mothers. It was also found that the resulting effect of khat chewing during pregnancy on the delivered offspring was increased with the increase in both duration and frequency of khat chewing. These results indicated that khat use in pregnancy may be one of the factors that lead to intrauterine growth retardation. Further studies should look into the effect of khat chewing by pregnant mothers on foetal growth