Food-related Taboos during Pregnancy and Lactation among Women of Rural Haryana: A Cross-sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/05swje96Keywords:
food taboos, pregnancy, lactation, households, Haryana.Abstract
Background: Pregnancy and lactation are those physiological periods when nutrient demands are considerably increased. Food taboos practiced during these periods influence food’s nutritional quality, which subsequently affects pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Aim: To study the food practices and related taboos during pregnancy and lactation among women in households of village Juan, Sonepat, Haryana
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 90 study households selected by
systematic random sampling from September to October 2021. Data were collected by interviewing a female
respondent from each household using an open-ended questionnaire.
Results: During pregnancy, the most commonly consumed foods were milk (98.9%), green leafy vegetables
(96.7%), and fruits (91.1%); whereas avoided foods were spicy foods (35.6%), oily/fried foods (34.4%), papaya
(31.1%), sapota (13.3%) due to fears of miscarriages and maternal deaths.
During lactation, the most commonly consumed foods were soft porridge with butter (98.9%), milk with dry dates (41.1%), and cumin water (37.8%). Foods commonly avoided were cold foods such as buttermilk/curd (95.6%), rice (54.4%); whole pulses (35.5%) due to fear of cough/cold and colic in baby.
Conclusion: A substantial proportion of study households had good practices of consuming foods rich in essential nutrients but were restricted by a few study households.
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