title: Pica in pregnant women in Zaria, Nigeria.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of pica, and factors associated with pica in pregnant women in Zaria. Using a structured questionnaire administered by medical staff, information was obtained from all newly delivered mothers in the Obstetric Unit of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, (ABUTH) Zaria, over a two week period. Statistical analyses included 95% confidence intervals, chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. The prevalence of pica among the subjects was 50%. The prevalence of non-food pica was significantly higher than that for food pica (difference = 17.8%, 95% confidence interval = 8.3 to 27.3%). There was a significant association between pica in family, friends or other members of the community and pica in the index pregnancy (chi 2 = 10.78, p = 0.007). Pica is common in pregnant women in Zaria, and their care should, therefore, include adequate dietary history and counselling. There is also a need to raise public awareness of the adverse effects of this practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sule
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Madugu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003376:Counseling; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010842:Pica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data