Impact of chewing Khat on the mode of delivery of Yemeni pregnant women

ABSTRACT

Khat chewing is common among Yemeni women, even during pregnancy where it may affect the wellbeing during pregnancy and during delivery of these pregnant women. This study was conducted to determine the impact of Khat chewing on the mode of delivery of pregnant Yemeni women. This is a prospective study for 60 regular Khat chewing pregnant women and 120 non-Khat chewing pregnant women, selected from those attended with singleton pregnancy in their first or second trimester from the ANC unit of AL-Gamhouri Teaching Hospital in Taiz [Republic of Yemen]. Khat chewer pregnant women, when compared with the control, showed statistically significant risk of 6.06 times to deliver at gestational age earlier than 37 weeks and insignificant risk of 2.27 times to deliver after 42 weeks. They showed a statistically significant risk of 2.65 times to deliver by cesarean section [CS] and insignificant risk of 4.86 times for instrumental delivery. This study concluded that Khat chewing is associated with higher rate of cesarean and instrumental deliveries that may affect maternal and fetal wellbeing