Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Food Taboo �?¢�?�?�?�? An Unmasked Threat to Healthy Pregnancy: A Study among Pregnant Mothers Living in Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh aimed to investigate the prevalent food taboos and misconception practiced by the underpriviledged community of the capital of Bangladesh. A six month long cross-sectional study had some crucial findings which proved to be significant public health challenges. The most common food taboos indicated that twin fruits or vegetables would cause twin pregnancy, which has no scientific verification. Other taboos focussing plant food items were also prevalent among them. It was surprising that some mothers believed eating fish during pregnancy will lead the child having scales and fish like head and salted or dried fishes consumption may lead to birth of dull-headed baby. Even they believed that milk production may be hindered by prawn. Their meat consumption was found to be limited sometimes with the belief that eating duck meat may lead the baby having harsh voice and shockingly eggs were said to create psychological problems in baby. During the interview, some mothers denied to feed their babies colostrum as they considered that colostrum might upset infant�?¢�?�?�?�?s stomach. Thus protein rich foods of high bioavailability was less consumed by majority of the studied population. Where medical science and pharamacolopgy are advancing, the existence of superstitions, food taboos and misconceptions, illiteracy, insufficient nutrition education and untrained community health workers are the prominent barriors to improving public health and achieving Sustanable Development Goals (SDGs) in the underpriviledged and deprived communities of developing countries like Bangladesh.

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