Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Robert Wondimu; Esubalew Tesfahun; Zalalem Kaba

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Robert Wondimu, Esubalew Tesfahun, Zalalem Kaba

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 30 January 2021 Accepted: 10 March 2021 Published: 17 March 2021

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Abstract

Background: Dietary practices often take the form of rules stating which foods should not be eaten, that is food proscriptions or taboos. Food proscriptions are usually temporary and selective, but food taboos may have an absolute nature. Food taboos refer to the restriction of specific food as a result of social or religious customs. In many traditional societies, cultural norms and customs govern behaviors including, during critical life stages like pregnancy. Every day at least 1600 women die from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth globally. Declaring certain food taboos because they are thought to make a person sick, is also the basis for the many food taboos affecting pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of food taboo and its associated factors among pregnant women in SendafaBeke town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study conducted from March 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019 among pregnant women who selected using systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using both a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and for qualitative, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted. The data was coded, entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data cleaning and analysis. Descriptive measures mean, median, frequency and percentage were used. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the magnitude and direction of association between a set of independent variables and the outcome variable at p<0.25. Then those variables with p<0.25 was selected for multivariable analysis. Finally, odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: More than half (55.3%) of total pregnant mothers encountered for at least for one food item. Food items avoided were, milk and milk products (26.9%), eggs (20.23%), linseed (17.86%), fatty meats (15.07%), fruits (9.52%), Honey (6.74%) and vegetables (3.57%). Reasons mentioned for avoidance of this food item; fear of fat baby, fear of abnormality baby, fear of abortion, plastered on fetal head and food flavor. Conclusion: This study revealed that food taboos and eating behavior during pregnancy like aversion, skipping and no use additional meal and occupation of husbands and educational status shows that significant association with food taboo affects more than half of pregnant mothers due to beliefs in old unscientific tales.

Published in	International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15
Page(s)	75-86
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Food Taboo, Pregnant Women, SendafaBeke, Oromia

References

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Robert Wondimu, Esubalew Tesfahun, Zalalem Kaba. (2021). Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 9(2), 75-86. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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ACS Style

Robert Wondimu; Esubalew Tesfahun; Zalalem Kaba. Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2021, 9(2), 75-86. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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AMA Style

Robert Wondimu, Esubalew Tesfahun, Zalalem Kaba. Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2021;9(2):75-86. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15,
  author = {Robert Wondimu and Esubalew Tesfahun and Zalalem Kaba},
  title = {Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {75-86},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20211002.15},
  abstract = {Background: Dietary practices often take the form of rules stating which foods should not be eaten, that is food proscriptions or taboos. Food proscriptions are usually temporary and selective, but food taboos may have an absolute nature. Food taboos refer to the restriction of specific food as a result of social or religious customs. In many traditional societies, cultural norms and customs govern behaviors including, during critical life stages like pregnancy. Every day at least 1600 women die from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth globally. Declaring certain food taboos because they are thought to make a person sick, is also the basis for the many food taboos affecting pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of food taboo and its associated factors among pregnant women in SendafaBeke town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study conducted from March 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019 among pregnant women who selected using systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using both a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and for qualitative, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted. The data was coded, entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data cleaning and analysis. Descriptive measures mean, median, frequency and percentage were used. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the magnitude and direction of association between a set of independent variables and the outcome variable at p<0.25. Then those variables with p<0.25 was selected for multivariable analysis. Finally, odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: More than half (55.3%) of total pregnant mothers encountered for at least for one food item. Food items avoided were, milk and milk products (26.9%), eggs (20.23%), linseed (17.86%), fatty meats (15.07%), fruits (9.52%), Honey (6.74%) and vegetables (3.57%). Reasons mentioned for avoidance of this food item; fear of fat baby, fear of abnormality baby, fear of abortion, plastered on fetal head and food flavor. Conclusion: This study revealed that food taboos and eating behavior during pregnancy like aversion, skipping and no use additional meal and occupation of husbands and educational status shows that significant association with food taboo affects more than half of pregnant mothers due to beliefs in old unscientific tales.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
AU - Robert Wondimu
AU - Esubalew Tesfahun
AU - Zalalem Kaba
Y1 - 2021/03/17
PY - 2021
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15
DO - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15
T2 - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP - 75
EP - 86
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2330-7420
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15
AB - Background: Dietary practices often take the form of rules stating which foods should not be eaten, that is food proscriptions or taboos. Food proscriptions are usually temporary and selective, but food taboos may have an absolute nature. Food taboos refer to the restriction of specific food as a result of social or religious customs. In many traditional societies, cultural norms and customs govern behaviors including, during critical life stages like pregnancy. Every day at least 1600 women die from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth globally. Declaring certain food taboos because they are thought to make a person sick, is also the basis for the many food taboos affecting pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of food taboo and its associated factors among pregnant women in SendafaBeke town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study conducted from March 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019 among pregnant women who selected using systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using both a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and for qualitative, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted. The data was coded, entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data cleaning and analysis. Descriptive measures mean, median, frequency and percentage were used. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the magnitude and direction of association between a set of independent variables and the outcome variable at p<0.25. Then those variables with p<0.25 was selected for multivariable analysis. Finally, odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: More than half (55.3%) of total pregnant mothers encountered for at least for one food item. Food items avoided were, milk and milk products (26.9%), eggs (20.23%), linseed (17.86%), fatty meats (15.07%), fruits (9.52%), Honey (6.74%) and vegetables (3.57%). Reasons mentioned for avoidance of this food item; fear of fat baby, fear of abnormality baby, fear of abortion, plastered on fetal head and food flavor. Conclusion: This study revealed that food taboos and eating behavior during pregnancy like aversion, skipping and no use additional meal and occupation of husbands and educational status shows that significant association with food taboo affects more than half of pregnant mothers due to beliefs in old unscientific tales.
VL - 9
IS - 2
ER -

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Author Information

Robert Wondimu

SendafaBeke Town Health Office, SendafaBeke, Ethiopia
Esubalew Tesfahun

College of Health Science, Department of Public Health, DebreBehran University, DebreBehran, Ethiopia
Zalalem Kaba

East Wollega Zonal Health Office, WASH-NTDs Program, Nekemte, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Robert Wondimu, Esubalew Tesfahun, Zalalem Kaba. (2021). Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 9(2), 75-86. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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ACS Style

Robert Wondimu; Esubalew Tesfahun; Zalalem Kaba. Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2021, 9(2), 75-86. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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AMA Style

Robert Wondimu, Esubalew Tesfahun, Zalalem Kaba. Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2021;9(2):75-86. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15,
  author = {Robert Wondimu and Esubalew Tesfahun and Zalalem Kaba},
  title = {Food Taboo and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in SendafaBeke Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {75-86},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20211002.15},
  abstract = {Background: Dietary practices often take the form of rules stating which foods should not be eaten, that is food proscriptions or taboos. Food proscriptions are usually temporary and selective, but food taboos may have an absolute nature. Food taboos refer to the restriction of specific food as a result of social or religious customs. In many traditional societies, cultural norms and customs govern behaviors including, during critical life stages like pregnancy. Every day at least 1600 women die from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth globally. Declaring certain food taboos because they are thought to make a person sick, is also the basis for the many food taboos affecting pregnant women. Objective: To assess the prevalence of food taboo and its associated factors among pregnant women in SendafaBeke town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study conducted from March 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019 among pregnant women who selected using systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using both a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and for qualitative, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted. The data was coded, entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data cleaning and analysis. Descriptive measures mean, median, frequency and percentage were used. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the magnitude and direction of association between a set of independent variables and the outcome variable at p<0.25. Then those variables with p<0.25 was selected for multivariable analysis. Finally, odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: More than half (55.3%) of total pregnant mothers encountered for at least for one food item. Food items avoided were, milk and milk products (26.9%), eggs (20.23%), linseed (17.86%), fatty meats (15.07%), fruits (9.52%), Honey (6.74%) and vegetables (3.57%). Reasons mentioned for avoidance of this food item; fear of fat baby, fear of abnormality baby, fear of abortion, plastered on fetal head and food flavor. Conclusion: This study revealed that food taboos and eating behavior during pregnancy like aversion, skipping and no use additional meal and occupation of husbands and educational status shows that significant association with food taboo affects more than half of pregnant mothers due to beliefs in old unscientific tales.},
 year = {2021}
}

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