Food taboos among pregnant and lactating mothers in Osisioma local government area, Abia State, Nigeria

This research delved into the phenomenon of food taboos among rural pregnant and lactating mothers in Osisioma L.G.A. A total of 262 participants were chosen through a simple random sampling method, and a structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data on the socio-demographic and economic characteristics, family structure, food taboos, and feeding practices of the respondents. The study employed a multi-stage sampling technique. Initially, twenty communities were randomly selected from a pool of thirty. Subsequently, six health centers and two hospitals were purposively chosen from the available eleven health centers and six hospitals, respectively. The findings revealed that cultural beliefs and practices played a pivotal role in the food intake of the mothers. Approximately 44.3% of the mothers acknowledged the existence of food taboos within their vicinity. A quarter (45.4%) of the mothers observed food taboos during pregnancy. Major reasons given by the women as to why they avoided some foods include fear of difficult delivery, fear of abortions and discoloration of the fetal body. Avoiding foods during pregnancy might have long term impact on the mother and baby. The study advocates for the nationwide implementation of nutrition education programs during pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation, emphasizing on the critical nutrients.