From: Food beliefs and practices among the Kalenjin pregnant women in rural Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Food type | Reason | Percentage (N = 154) |
---|---|---|
Traditional vegetables (Table 4) | Increase blood of the mother, gives strength to the mother and reduces heartburn | 89 |
Milk | Gives strength to the mother, builds body and adds blood to the mother | 63 |
Fruitsa | Increase blood to the mother and protect the baby | 35 |
Traditional herbs | Give strength to the mother, protect the baby, immunity booster to mother and foetus, reduce heartburn, ‘evil eyes’ and misfortunes and gastro-intestinal discomfort, increases uterine contractions during labour | 34 |
Ugali b | Gives strength to the mother | 32 |
Porridge | Gives strength to the mother and increases the mother’s blood | 32 |
Liverc | Increases blood of the mother | 24 |
Water | Gives strength to the mother | 15 |
Animal bloodd | Increases blood of the mother | 13 |
Beans | Gives strength to the mother and increases blood of the mother | 12 |
Fish | Builds body and increases blood of the mother | 11 |
Red soil and soft stonese | Increases blood to mother | 7 |
Meatf | Adds blood to, and builds body of, the mother | 7 |
Cooked bananas | Gives strength to the mother | 5 |