title: Pica during pregnancy in low-income women born in Mexico.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics Department of Pediatrics University of California, Irvine Medical Center Orange, CA 92668, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mull
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Longley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: East
mesh_terms: 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