The long border of Saudi Arabia with Yemen is the primary route for khat entry to the Kingdom. As of April 2015, the government of SA tightened the border, making it more difficult to import khat into the country. As a result, local user prices of khat probably increased due in part to higher supply costs and perhaps lower quantities. One anti-drug strategy is to increase consumption cost by increasing the price of supply. We aim in this study to measure the responsiveness of khat demand to price changes. This study used a cross-sectional survey design. Two stage sampling was used to recruit 350 khat chewers from four selected primary healthcare centers in Jazan province (South western province of Saudi Arabia). The data were collected during the first quarter of 2017. This study used both contingent valuation and revealed preference methods to assess the impact of price increases on the purchasing of khat. Graphical analysis, paired-samples t-test, and one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the impact of price increases on khat consumption. The study results showed a significant decrease in khat consumption amount (t = 8.63, p ≤ 0.05), frequency (t = 30.42, p ≤ 0.05), and expenditure (t = 34.67, p ≤ 0.05) after the tightening of the Saudi–Yemeni border. Hence khat demand is price elastic. The price elasticity of khat demand in Jazan is estimated to be between − 2.38 and − 1.07. Therefore, each 1% increase in price is associated with 1–2% reduction in quantity demanded. This means khat chewers are relatively responsive to price changes (i.e., khat demand is price elastic). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed price increases significantly affect the quantity {F(4, 2.58) = 257, p ≤ 0.05, ηp2 = 0.423} and frequency {F(4, 1.83) = 415, p ≤ 0.05, ηp2 = 0.543} of khat chewing. Increased prices for khat would significantly decrease demand. Accordingly, we recommend implementing law enforcement strategies focused on disrupting the khat supply chain to realize high prices and so discourage use, hence reducing the incidence of khat-related illnesses.

Speech delay can affect a child’s academic performance, communication skills, and social interactions later in life. Despite its prevalence, gaps remain in understanding the risk factors associated with speech delay, particularly in diverse populations. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, health, and environmental determinants of speech delay in children. This was an age-matched case–control study. A total of 282 responses were collected from the case group and 409 responses were received from the control group in the period from September 2022 to May 2023. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the characteristics of the cases and controls. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between speech delay and various factors, adjusting for potential confounders, such as age, sex, family history, and health conditions. Boys were significantly more likely to have speech delay than girls (odds ratio [OR], 3.05; 95% CI: 2.18–4.29, P < .001). Children with a family history of speech delay (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.32–4.29, P = .004) were more than twice as likely to have speech delay. Lower educational levels of both fathers (OR: 4.21, 95% CI: 1.35–14.24, P = .015) and mothers (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.27–4.77, P = .008) were significantly associated with a higher risk of speech delay. Moreover, nursery attendance and health conditions, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and hearing loss, were strongly associated with speech delay (P < .05). However, family income and parental employment did not show a strong association with delayed speech. This study highlights key factors such as gender, parental education, family history, and certain health conditions (autism, ADHD, and hearing impairment) as strong and significant predictors of speech delay in children. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and early screenings to mitigate risks, especially for children in vulnerable groups. Future research should explore the interplay of environmental and genetic factors and refine prevention strategies.