Food Taboos among Pregnant Women in the Community of Mayork, the Gambia

Abstract

Pregnant women globally are confronted with culturally practiced taboos that prevent them from acquiring enough necessary amount of nutritive components to achieve their maternal health outcomes. Cultural taboos are mostly practiced in traditional communities, such as Mayork, West Coast, The Gambia. The research intends to enhance an understanding of Mayork women’s nutritional taboo practice during pregnancy, as well as food restrictions during childhood feeding. Interviews with 168 pregnant women all originally from Mayork, West Cost, The Gambia were conducted. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed to interview women of childbearing age. The 24-item questionnaire was divided into sections to capture the demographic and socioeconomic data of these women of childbearing age and to assess the motivations for not using certain foods during pregnancy and early childhood feeding. The study revealed that 53.6% of the participants were between the ages of 18 and 27 years. The prevalence of food taboos among participants was 54.2% and the majority (92.9%) gave colostrum to their babies. Also, there was a strong association between tribal, educational, marital status, and food taboos practiced. The study revealed that a high prevalence of food taboos is being practiced among pregnant women in the village of Mayork and that Mothers-in-law in this village play the role of the enforcement of cultural taboos practiced during pregnancy and child feeding. Also that the participants of the study knew the public health-recommended foods to be eaten and avoided during pregnancy. Finally, Antenatal clinics remain a vital source of maternal nutrition education.

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