PICA PRACTICES IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR IMPACT ON MATERNAL AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES

Introduction: In pregnancy, the practice of ingesting non-food items such as dirt, chalk and clay is referred to as pica, and it is a serious health risk both to the mother and the child. This behavior is usually seen in pregnant women and is associated with several complications, such as nutrition deficiency, anemia, and pregnancy-associated problems like preterm labor and low birth weight. Objectives: To describe the extent of pica practices among pregnant women and its impact on maternal outcomes including anemia, preterm labor, and neonatal outcome including birth weight and Apgar scores. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Indus Hospital and Health Network Karachi, Pakistan from January 2023 to June 2023. Self-administered questionnaires and hospital records of 300 pregnant women were used to obtain data. As screening criteria, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined, and the variables based on which the research would be conducted were identified. Results: This study had a pica prevalence of 50%. Pica-practicing women had significantly low hemoglobin levels, high degrees of preterm labor, their neonates had low birth weight and low Apgar scores. Conclusion:  Pica behavior has been found to have negative consequences that affect the health of both the mother and the infant. Therefore, encouraging activities and additional testing during antenatal Care appointments are needed.