Nutritional Practices and Taboos among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at General Hospital in Kano; Northwest Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: Food taboos among rural women have been identified as one of the factors contributing to maternal undernutrition in pregnancy. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore some of the taboos and nutritional practices among pregnant women attending antenatal care at a General Hospital in Dawakin Kudu LGA; Kano; Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 220 pregnant women. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to interview the respondents; which showed various sociodemographic information; cultural nutritional processes; taboos of the community; and a 24 h food recall. The ages; parities; and gestational ages of the women were collated. Descriptive statistics was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software Version 17.0 (SPSS Inc.; Chicago; IL; USA). Association between sociodemographic factors and nutritional practices and taboos was determined using Chi-square test and P 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: At the end of the study; 200 participants (91%) gave complete information. Most of the women; 70% (140/200) were in the 20-39 years age range with mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 23.7 (6.1) years; mostly uneducated; 70% (140/200); and unemployed; 51% (102/200). Most of the women did a child spacing of 12-24 months; 62% (124/200) with mean (SD) child spacing interval of 26.32 (10.19) months. Gestational age at booking was mostly 13-26 weeks; 48% (96/200) with an average of 26.60 (8.01). Most of the women had 1-4 children; 54.5% (109/200) with mean (SD) of 2.47 (2.50). Most of the women agreed that they had adequate intake of oil; 86% (172/200); meat/fish; 92% (194/200); fruit/vegetables 56% (112/200); and had 3 meals/day 80% (152/200); and did not practice pica 83% (166/200). All of the women; 100% (200/200) believe that women should eat more during pregnancy in order to have healthy babies. They were mostly supported by their husbands; 53% (106/200) and less likely by the community; 34% (17/200). The nutritional practices and taboos of the women showed a statistically significant association with age; parity; and support received from husband and community (P 0.05). Educational status is not associated with their nutritional practices and taboos. Conclusion: Although sociocultural indices of the respondents were poor; their intake of good nutrition and abstinence from nutrition taboos were satisfactory. Further studies are intended to objectively study the nutritional practices/taboos in pregnancy