From: Food beliefs and practices among the Kalenjin pregnant women in rural Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Food type | Reason | Percentage (N = 154) |
---|---|---|
Animal organsa | Preserved delicacy for men and burren or menopouse women, tongue makes baby and women talk much | 96 |
Meatb | Makes the baby big and brings misfortune to mother or baby | 87 |
Eggs | Makes the baby big, causes high blood pressure and colic pain in the baby | 68 |
Oily foodc | Causes colic pain to the baby and makes the baby’s saliva ooze | 25 |
Avocado | Makes the baby big | 20 |
Alcohol and cigarettes | Results in a retarded, underweight and stunted child | 19 |
Soil/soft stonesd | Causes colic pain to baby and finishes baby’s blood | 11 |
Sugary foode | Causes colic pain to baby, makes baby’s saliva drool | 11 |
Moboriet f | Makes the baby big, makes mother defecate a lot during birth, makes foetus docile | 10 |
Fresh milk | Makes the baby grow big | 7 |
Cabbages and kale | Are not nutritious, give the mother heartburn and nausea, use a lot of chemicals to grow | 6 |
Salt | Makes the baby’s skin crack and peel, increases blood flow/pressure of the mother | 5 |
Sheep’s head | Makes the baby have a blocked nose hence breaths with snoring sound | 5 |
Cold water | Weakens the mother’s back ache after birth and prolongs labour pain | 5 |
Plantain | Makes the baby big | 4 |
Sheep meat | Causes allergies such as rashes to the baby’s skin | 3 |
Vegetables grown on a burned soil | Cause burn-like rashes to the baby’s skin | 3 |
Beans | Give the mother heartburn and nausea | 3 |
Fermented milk | Gives the mother heartburn | 3 |
Fermented porridge | Gives the mother heartburn | 3 |
Rice and Irish potatoes | Supply less energy | 3 |