title: Motivations for food prohibitions during pregnancy and their enforcement mechanisms in a rural Ghanaian district.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food taboos are known from virtually all human societies and pregnant women have often been targeted. We qualitatively assessed food taboos during pregnancy, its motivating factors, and enforcement mechanisms in the Upper Manya Krobo district of Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an exploratory cross sectional study using qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs). Sixteen FGDs were conducted. Participants were purposively selected using the maximum variation sampling technique. Tape recorded FGDs were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Malterudian systematic text condensation technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the participants were aware of the existence of food prohibitions and beliefs targeting pregnant women in Upper Manya Krobo. The study identified snails, rats, hot foods, and animal lungs as tabooed during pregnancy. Adherence motivators included expectation of safe and timely delivery, avoidance of "monkey babies" (deformed babies); respect for ancestors, parents, and community elders. Enforcement mechanisms identified included constant reminders by parents, family members and significant others. Stigmatization and community sanctions are deployed sparingly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food taboos and traditional beliefs targeting pregnant women exist in Upper Manya Krobo. Pregnant women are forbidden from eating snails, rats, snakes, hot foods and animal lungs. To a large extent, socio-cultural, and to a lesser, health concerns motivate the practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana. skarzoaquoi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Samson K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Arzoaquoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana. eddenco@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Edward E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Essuman
authors.affiliation: Marie Stopes International, Accra, Ghana. gbagbofredyao2002@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Fred Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Gbagbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada. eytenkorang@mun.ca.
authors.forename: Eric Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Tenkorang
authors.affiliation: South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) School of Medicine & Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences MONASH University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia. soyiriin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ireneous
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soyiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana. alaar@ug.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Amos K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Laar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards*; D005869:Ghana; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000068097:Maternal Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D051381:Rats; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013609:Taboo; D055815:Young Adult