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Lakshmi G
Assistant Academic Monitoring Officer, Rajiv Vidya Mission (SSA), Visakhapatnam-03
ABSTRACT
This is an attempt to examine the food preferences and restrictions practiced by the tribal women of
Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. They have the deep rooted beliefs about the
food preferences and restrictions. The study reveals the respondents' opinion about the preferential
and non-preferential food items and also tried to explain the loss of valuable nutrients during
antenatal period on the name of food taboos. Due to these traditional beliefs they are suffering from
protein-energy malnutrition and other deficiencies which lead to health complications both to the
mother and infants. The present results were discussed in the light of other published data carried
out on different tribal and non-tribal populations from India.
valuable foods even when they locally available at consume some hot foods that are mostly useful for
low cost. Among the tribal populations of north milk production & cleaning of the bad blood after
coastal Andhra Pradesh, certain food items are delivery and restricted to some foods that will lead to
preferred for consumption and some are avoided some primary health problems to the newborns.
during pregnancy as well as after the delivery as per Due to some magico-religious beliefs they restricted
their customs and beliefs [2]. highly nutritive foods during pre and post natal
periods which lead to anaemia and other micro
OBJECTIVES nutritional deficiencies to mothers and newborns.
The main objective of the study is to examine the The reasons for their food preferences and taboos
existing food practices during antenatal period were enquired and its impact on the loss of valuable
towards mother and child health among Savara and nutrients was also assessed and is presented.
Jatapu tribal communities. Adequacy of food stuffs in sufficient variety is the
essential requisite for satisfactory human nutrition.
Specific Objectives:
Factors such as life style, food taboos, income, and
To study the beliefs, practices and superstitions
infection operate the human nutrition.
towards food existing during antenatal period.
To evaluate the loss of nutrients due to food
Food Patterns during Antenatal period
taboos among the pregnant women. Early marriage, high work burdens, narrow birth
intervals and discriminatory food customs combine
MATERIALS AND METHODS to force the pregnant women at risk of becoming or
The study was conducted among Savara and
remaining malnourished. During pregnancy a
Jatapu tribal communities of Srikakulam District.
woman should eat a wide variety of body building
The main intension in selecting Srikakulam District
food and should follow the healthy practices. The
is that the government has recognized this district as
pregnant woman should not neglect her physical
backward in all aspects especially in health and
needs as the life of the foetus is also involved. In this
nutrition. They have low rate of literacy, more
context, the present women respondents were
prevalent superstitions. For the present study 600
interviewed for food practices during pregnancy and
eligible women in their active reproductive age
lactation phases.
group i.e. between 15th and 45th year were selected Of the 600 women surveyed, 60% believed that
at random from 7 mandals of the district. certain foods should be specially consumed during
Respondents were lactating mothers and pregnant pregnancy. Among the foods recommended almost
women. Data regarding their food preferences and all foods such as meat, fruits and vegetables rich
the taboo of certain food items during pregnancy with nutrients and are necessary for the health of
period were collected by employing pre-tested in- mother and baby (Table 1). With reference to the
depth interviews and direct observation. consumption of foods during pregnancy, 82.1% of
the total number of women believed that some of the
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION food items should be restricted to pregnant women.
There are numerous restrictions during ante and
All the respondents i.e., 100% of them have deep
post natal periods. During antenatal period, the
rooted false beliefs on certain foods, which imply a
tribal women prefer iron rich and cold food items
negative effect on their health. The tribal people
which they believe that these foods are good for
believe that the herbs collected from the forest and
growth and development of the foetus. At the same
the meat of wild animals were considered as the
time they restricted to consume raw papaya,
good food for the pregnant women. Cent percent of
sesame, coconut water and fermented rice because
the respondents are of opinion that consumption of
they felt that these food items may induce abortion
heat producing food for lactating women can cause
and create some health problems, like
further complications for their children out of total
communicable diseases, green motions etc to the
sample. 64.2% of the respondents are of opinion
newborns. In the post natal period, they also
that consumption of papaya, sesame, coconut
water, fermented rice and foods and heat producing with yellowish and green motions), indigestion,
food stuffs during pregnancy cause abortion. About baby becomes skinned with hair and risk of having
20.0% of respondents opined that foods like green twins. Further 13.5% of them opined that citrus
plantains, cluster beans, mushrooms, fruits of fruits when given to infants cause cold and cough
palmyra palms, brinjal, Jack fruits, fowls' eggs, and 2.6% of them reported that consumption of
Physalis minima L-(green fruit-) during pregnancy heavy meals during pregnancy causes
causes anasalu (a state in which the patient suffers complications during delivery.
There are several traditions prevailing among tribes Durga rao mentioned that some foods are preferred
about food intake by pregnant and lactating in tribal populations of north coastal andhra
mothers. The pregnant mother is prohibited to eat pradesh. They are bottle gourd, ridge gourd, small
ghee, oil seeds, ground nuts, curd and hot foods gourd, pumpkin, drumstick, lady fingers, plantain,
(Table 2). Newly delivered mother is given several cauliflower, beans, dry mango piece, mestha
types of herbal products and gum with ghee to eat. It (Hibiscus Cannabinus), amaranthus, bamboo
is believed that during pregnancy rich foods shoots, gogu leaves, fruits(yam/ papaya), dates,
containing ghee and fat is injurious to health of niger seeds oil, asafoetida, black gram, bengal
womb and after the delivery it is good for the health gram, pepper, bread, milk, meat (chicken/ goat/
of the mother as well as child. The tribal people of cattle), prawn powder, ragi gruel, sama gruel,
Southern Rajasthan especially Kathodi and Garasia tamaraind rasam, pippalla kayam, Fried rice with
believe that during pregnancy use of forest foods jeera and chilly powder [5].
and animal foods are good for health of mother and Most of the foods restricted are inexpensive and
child. Kathodi women eat monkey meat during nutritious. The beliefs stated for each food have no
delivery [4]. scientific explanation. Common and inexpensive
34 Journal of Community Nutrition & Health, Vol.2, Issue 2, 2013
www.jcnh.in Lakshmi
vegetables like pumpkin and leafy vegetables are many others are all supposed to harm the baby or
restricted while eggs, horse gram and Bengal gram the mother in some manner if taken during
are not acceptable during pregnancy. The belief pregnancy [3].
about custard apple is interesting because it is
avoided as it is cold. Beliefs and restrictions of this Other studies revealed that during pregnancy some
type adversely affect a pregnant woman. Lack of foods are avoided by the tribal populations like bitter
proper nourishment of the mother may in turn affect
gourd, snake gourd, potato, fresh tamarind,
the growth of the baby (Table 2). Therefore, it is
essential that proper measures be taken to see that coconut, cabbage, chick pea, Momordia dioca,
these beliefs and practices are not followed in Cucumis sativa, jack, mango, water melon, fish
future. Similarly Meghendra Banerjee reported the (dry/raw/salted), meat(white chicken/wild cat), wild
beliefs of people from 19 states, that the eating of hog/deer/peacock, eggs, maize, green gram,
red meat, chicken, eggs, milk, jack fruit, spinach and
35 Journal of Community Nutrition & Health, Vol.2, Issue 2, 2013
www.jcnh.in Lakshmi
dolichos sps, asmola dal, dolichos dal, barely, curd present tribal women are avoiding many food
(Buffalo), junnu (sweet made of colostrums of items which are locally available, affordable
cattle), country liquor, sap of caryota urens and and rich with nutrients which are essential
tablets (except IFA). Prohibited foods during during ante and post natal periods. And hence
pregnancy are pumpkin, green gram, papaya, they are suffering from various nutritional
mushrooms, brinjal and tomato [1]. deficiencies and actually they need these
nutrients during these periods, for keeping
Nutritional requirements during antenatal
good health of their own and for the healthy
period growth and development of foetus and infants
Women in the reproductive age group and (Table-3).