title: Food taboos and myths in South Eastern Nigeria: The belief and practice of mothers in the region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor nutritional practices especially in pregnancy and early childhood can result in dire consequences in the growth and development of a child.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study using purposive sampling enrolled 149 women who had carried at least one pregnancy to term in Enugu south east Nigeria. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess association between avoidance of certain food in pregnancy and selected socio-demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 37 % of respondents avoided some foods in pregnancy due to food taboos and no relationship was seen between this avoidance of food and maternal educational attainment, parity (number of obstetrics deliveries) and occupation. Snail and grass-cutter meat were the commonly avoided food in pregnancy while egg were commonly avoided in children under-two years old. Some respondent believed eating snail and grass-cutter meat makes a child sluggish and labour difficult respectively while starting egg early for a child could predispose them to stealing later in life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discussion about food taboos during antenatal care visits and during community education can help reduce the traditional belief about certain food in pregnancy and early childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Enugu, Nigeria. uekwochi@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Uchenna
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ekwochi
authors.affiliation: Child Survival Unit, Medical Research Council UK, The Gambia Unit, Fajara, The Gambia. chidi.osuorah@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chidiebere D I
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Osuorah
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Enugu, Nigeria. Ikennandu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ikenna K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Ndu
authors.affiliation: Griffiths University Medical School, Gold Coast, Australia. c.ifediora@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ifediora
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Enugu, Nigeria. isaacasinobi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Isaac Nwabueze
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Asinobi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nsukka, Nigeria. christopher.eke@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Christopher Bismark
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Eke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013609:Taboo
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