Role of food taboos in energy, macro and micronutrient intake of pregnant women in western Kenya
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine food taboos/habits and dietary patterns of pregnant women in Kenya.
Design/methodology/approach
In all, 205 individual 24-h recall interviews were conducted face to face to collect information on pregnant women dietary intake. Women focus group discussions were conducted in seven villages in Kakamega County to determine which foods are avoided during pregnancy and the reasons for avoiding them.
Findings
The concept of “baby becoming big” was common advice to pregnant women to reduce intake of large amounts of starchy or high caloric foods. Restriction on the consumption of some parts of cow and chicken and consumption of eggs was widespread. Women with the highest education had significantly higher intake than women with lower education: energy (1,718 vs 1,436 kcal, p = 0.007), protein (45 vs 38 g, p = 0.03), vitamin C (59 vs 39 mg, p = 0.000), calcium (275 vs 222 mg, p = 0.04) and iron (8.5 vs 7.2 mg, p = 0.03). Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that participants with higher education were more likely to reach estimated average intake for energy (OR = 2.82, 95 per cent CI = 1.2-6.5) and vitamin C (OR = 4.1, 95 per cent CI = 1.5-11.0) than women with lower education level.
Originality/value
The observed link between reduced intake of nutrients and low education levels suggests that education is a possible intervention strategy. Incorporating nutrition education in school curriculum and improving knowledge on nutrition among women with low education may help overcome unhealthy food taboos in pregnant women.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all the women who participated in the study. This research was supported by the Dr Hermann Eiselen PhD grant from the Foundation Fiat Panis as a part of the doctoral thesis of L.W.K supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)/Food Security Centre scholarship program. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation
Kariuki, L.W., Lambert, C., Purwestri, R.C., Maundu, P. and Biesalski, H.K. (2017), "Role of food taboos in energy, macro and micronutrient intake of pregnant women in western Kenya", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 47 No. 6, pp. 795-807. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-09-2016-0146
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited