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Table 4 Specific food taken during the postpartum period by the mother and the reasons for it

From: Traditional food taboos and practices during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and infant care of Zulu women in northern KwaZulu-Natal

Education background

None

n = 23

Grades 1–7

n = 24

Grades 8–12

n = 63

TEd

n = 30

Total

n = 140 (%)

Food taken during postpartum

Reason

13

16

44

8

81 (58)

Soft porridge (maize porridge)

Restore strength and encourage lactation

5

8

15

9

37 (26)

All fruits and vegetables

Increases and restores blood

6

4

15

11

36 (26)

Beetroot

To cleanse and restore loss blood and to avoid constipation

4

7

15

2

28 (20)

Tea

Encourages lactation

2

 

14

8

24 (17)

Liver

Increases blood

2

2

18

3

25 (18)

Mageu (fortified maize drink)

Encourages lactation, gives strength and energy

2

5

4

6

17 (12)

Meat

Build muscles

2

4

9

2

17 (12)

Amasi (fermented milk)

Restore strength and blood, facilitates lactation

2

4

8

1

15 (11)

Coffee, milo

Encourages lactation

  

5

6

11 (8)

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and Mfino (leafy vegetables)

Healthy, provides energy, Increases lactation, restores blood

1

1

4

3

9 (6)

Samp (crushed maize)

Restores energy

1

 

4

1

6 (40

Beans

Restores energy, boosts lactation

2

 

2

1

5 (4)

Peanuts

Restore strength and blood

 

1

2

1

4 (3)

Eggs

Healthy, increases the blood

1

1

 

1

3 (2)

Hot porridge

Burns the dirty blood after delivery, to regain energy

  

2

1

3 (2)

Yoghurt

If you have a cesarean delivery, it prevents a big tummy

  

2

1

3 (2)

Water

Facilitates lactation

  

3

 

3 (2)

Pumpkin

Restores energy

  

2

 

2 (1)

Cheese, polony (processed sausage)

Provide vitamins

1

   

1 (0.7)

Maize bread

Restores energy and builds muscles

   

1

1 (0.7)

Chicken soup

Warms the body after delivery

   

1

1 (0.7)

Brown bread

Restores energy

1

 

1

 

1 (0.7)

Ingontshwa/amabhelebhele plant (latex) (Sarcostemma viminale (L) R. Br)

Encourages lactation

 

1

  

1 (0.7)

Isijingi (porridge made from Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai)

Facilitates lactation

  

1

 

1 (0.7)

Juice

Facilitates lactation

  

1

 

1 (0.7)

Amadumbe

Restores energy

  

1

 

1 (0.7)

Coke

Facilitates lactation

  

1

 

1 (0.7)

Mayonnaise

To regain strength

  

1

 

1 (0.7)

Fish

To regain blood

  1. n number of participants responded, TEd tertiary education, Grade refers to the twelve classes (grades 1–12) that one attends at basic education before qualifying for the senior certificate to tertiary institutions