Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Food taboos among rural women have been identified as one of the factors contributing to maternal under nutrition in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to explore some of the taboos and nutritional practices among pregnancy women attending antenatal care at a General Hospital in Dawakin Kudu LGA, Kano, Nigeria. This is a cross sectional study involving 220 pregnant women. Research structured questionnaire was administered to 220 respondents which showed various socio demographic information, cultural nutritional processes and taboos of the community and 24 hours food recall. The ages, parities and gestational ages of the women were collated. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago). Numbers, mean, standard deviation and simple percentages were used to describe categorical variables. 200 participants (91%) gave complete information. The mean age was 23.7±6.1 years. Most of them (70%) had no formal education or occupation. Most of the respondents took adequate palm or groundnut oil (86%), meat and fish (92%), adequate fruit and vegetable (56%) and had three square meals (80%). Majority did not practice pica (84%). Nutritional taboo is not a common practice. Most of the women (83%) did not receive any form of support from the community and more than half of them were supported by their husbands. Although sociocultural indices of the respondents were poor, their intake of good nutrition and abstinence from nutrition taboos are satisfactory. Further studies are intended to objectively study the nutritional practices/taboos in pregnancy.

Biography

Emmanuel Ugwa earned MBBCh, MSc, MBA degrees in Nigeria. He is a fellow of both the National Postgraduates Medical College and West African College of Surgeons specializing in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. He has presented papers in Britain, Canada, USA and Nigeria some of which are finalist for award. He is a Member of Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and Nigerian Medical Association. He has published more than 30 papers in reputable journals and has been serving as Reviewer of some journals.