Pica during pregnancy in low-income women born in Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
To describe pica behavior (ingestion of nonfood items) in pregnant low-income Mexican-born women in Mexico and the United States.


METHODS
A convenience sample of informants was interviewed with a questionnaire containing open-ended and closed-ended questions.


METHODS
A low-income community on the outskirts of Ensenada, Mexico, and clinics serving low-income people in southern California (Santa Ana, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles).


METHODS
Of a total of 225 Mexican-born women, 75 (33%) were interviewed in Ensenada, and 150 (67%) were interviewed in southern California.


RESULTS
The prevalence of pica during pregnancy was 44% (n = 33) in the Ensenada group and 31% (n = 46) in the southern California group. Those who reported pica behavior more commonly had a relative who also practiced pica.


CONCLUSIONS
The high reported rate of pica in this sample indicates that pregnant Mexican-born women should be screened for pica and educated about the potentially serious effects on the fetus and mother.
Simpson
E
E
Division of Human Genetics Department of Pediatrics University of California, Irvine Medical Center Orange, CA 92668, USA.
Mull
J D
JD
Longley
E
E
East
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D010842:Pica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires