Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022
Abstract Background There are foods considered as taboo across different communities in the world and in Ethiopia in particular. Although food taboos exist across all ages or physiologic states, they are predominant among pregnant women and children. Identifying such foods among pregnant women is cr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05437-4 |
| _version_ | 1827982462000562176 |
|---|---|
| author | Hadush Gebregziabher Amaha Kahsay Fereweini Gebrearegay Kidanemaryam Berhe Alem Gebremariam Gebretsadkan Gebremedhin Gebretsadik |
| author_facet | Hadush Gebregziabher Amaha Kahsay Fereweini Gebrearegay Kidanemaryam Berhe Alem Gebremariam Gebretsadkan Gebremedhin Gebretsadik |
| author_sort | Hadush Gebregziabher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There are foods considered as taboo across different communities in the world and in Ethiopia in particular. Although food taboos exist across all ages or physiologic states, they are predominant among pregnant women and children. Identifying such foods among pregnant women is crucial in providing focused interventions and prevents their negative consequences. Therefore, the aim of this review was to review the available evidence on food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia to provide comprehensive and precise evidence for decision making. Methods Electronic search of the literature was made from Pub-Med, Google Scholar, Google Scopus, and Medline databases using search terms set based on the PICO/PS (Population, Intervention/exposure, Comparison, and Outcome) and PS (Population and Situation) search table. The search was made from December 05, 2020 – December, 29, 2021, and updated on January, 2022. All quantitative and qualitative studies published in English were included in the review. The systematic review protocol was registered at INPLASY (Registration number: INPLASY202310078). The outcome of interest was food taboo for pregnant women and its perceived reasons. The results of the review was narrated. Results After identifying eighty two articles, thirteen were found eligible for the review. Vegetables, fruits, and fatty foods like meat, and dairy products were considered as taboo for pregnant women in different parts of Ethiopia. The reasons stated for the food taboo vary from fear of having a big baby, obstructed labour, and abortion to evil eye and physical and aesthetic deformities in the newborn. Conclusions Though not uniform across the country, there are foods considered as taboo for pregnant women in Ethiopia due to several perceived reasons, misconceptions, and societal influences. This could increase the risk of malnutrition and could have short and long term consequences on both the mother and her growing foetus. Therefore, context specific nutritional counseling with emphasis during ante-natal care and post-natal service is important. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:33:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eeb234e58acf4b1ca2ded75cd87eb493 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:33:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-eeb234e58acf4b1ca2ded75cd87eb4932023-03-22T12:38:33ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932023-02-0123111010.1186/s12884-023-05437-4Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022Hadush Gebregziabher0Amaha Kahsay1Fereweini Gebrearegay2Kidanemaryam Berhe3Alem Gebremariam4Gebretsadkan Gebremedhin Gebretsadik5Department of Nutrition and Dietetics School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Adigrat UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle UniversityAbstract Background There are foods considered as taboo across different communities in the world and in Ethiopia in particular. Although food taboos exist across all ages or physiologic states, they are predominant among pregnant women and children. Identifying such foods among pregnant women is crucial in providing focused interventions and prevents their negative consequences. Therefore, the aim of this review was to review the available evidence on food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia to provide comprehensive and precise evidence for decision making. Methods Electronic search of the literature was made from Pub-Med, Google Scholar, Google Scopus, and Medline databases using search terms set based on the PICO/PS (Population, Intervention/exposure, Comparison, and Outcome) and PS (Population and Situation) search table. The search was made from December 05, 2020 – December, 29, 2021, and updated on January, 2022. All quantitative and qualitative studies published in English were included in the review. The systematic review protocol was registered at INPLASY (Registration number: INPLASY202310078). The outcome of interest was food taboo for pregnant women and its perceived reasons. The results of the review was narrated. Results After identifying eighty two articles, thirteen were found eligible for the review. Vegetables, fruits, and fatty foods like meat, and dairy products were considered as taboo for pregnant women in different parts of Ethiopia. The reasons stated for the food taboo vary from fear of having a big baby, obstructed labour, and abortion to evil eye and physical and aesthetic deformities in the newborn. Conclusions Though not uniform across the country, there are foods considered as taboo for pregnant women in Ethiopia due to several perceived reasons, misconceptions, and societal influences. This could increase the risk of malnutrition and could have short and long term consequences on both the mother and her growing foetus. Therefore, context specific nutritional counseling with emphasis during ante-natal care and post-natal service is important.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05437-4Food taboosPerceived reasonsPregnancyEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Hadush Gebregziabher Amaha Kahsay Fereweini Gebrearegay Kidanemaryam Berhe Alem Gebremariam Gebretsadkan Gebremedhin Gebretsadik Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022 BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Food taboos Perceived reasons Pregnancy Ethiopia |
| title | Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022 |
| title_full | Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022 |
| title_short | Food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review, 2022 |
| title_sort | food taboos and their perceived reasons among pregnant women in ethiopia a systematic review 2022 |
| topic | Food taboos Perceived reasons Pregnancy Ethiopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05437-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hadushgebregziabher foodtaboosandtheirperceivedreasonsamongpregnantwomeninethiopiaasystematicreview2022 AT amahakahsay foodtaboosandtheirperceivedreasonsamongpregnantwomeninethiopiaasystematicreview2022 AT fereweinigebrearegay foodtaboosandtheirperceivedreasonsamongpregnantwomeninethiopiaasystematicreview2022 AT kidanemaryamberhe foodtaboosandtheirperceivedreasonsamongpregnantwomeninethiopiaasystematicreview2022 AT alemgebremariam foodtaboosandtheirperceivedreasonsamongpregnantwomeninethiopiaasystematicreview2022 AT gebretsadkangebremedhingebretsadik foodtaboosandtheirperceivedreasonsamongpregnantwomeninethiopiaasystematicreview2022 |