Food taboos and associated factors among pregnant women in Haramaya Demographic Surveillance System, Haramaya District, Oromia Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Cultural practices and beliefs may influence the dietary patterns and intakes of pregnant women. Some of these may result in restriction of essential foods and drinks. Nutritional counselling during pregnancy should consider such practices in order to make sure that women get adequate nutrition without restriction. However, the prevalence of food taboos and its associated factors in the eastern Ethiopia was not well known. Objective: To assess magnitude of food taboos and its associated factors among pregnant women in, Haramaya Demographic Surveillance System, Haramaya District, Oromia Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 pregnant women randomly selected from the ongoing Haramaya Demographic Surveillance System. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS 23 for analysis. Descriptive, binary and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out. Statistical association was declared using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value < 0.05. Results: Food taboo among pregnant women was 48% (95% CI: 43, 52%). Fear of delivering big baby, fear of prolonged labor, belief of harming baby, fear of causing foetal deformity and cultural prohibitions were the major perceived reasons for food taboo. Food taboo among pregnant is associated with women who heard about food taboo (AOR, 3.58, 95% CI: 1.89, 6.83), women who had friends avoiding food (AOR, 1.91, 95% CI:1.22,2.99), with monthly income below 840 Birr (AOR, 1.73, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.73), women attended formal education (AOR, 1.95, 95%CI: 1.18, 3.23), and women who had attended immunization service (AOR, 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.58). Conclusions: Almost five in ten women in the study area experienced had food taboo. Food taboo during pregnancy is associated with women with no formal education, being in low monthly income, heard about food taboo and had immunization service. Concerned stakeholders should focus on awareness creation to minimize the effect of perceived reasons of food taboo.