Dietary behaviour, food and nutrient intake of pregnant women in a rural community in Burkina Faso

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess potential changes in dietary habits during pregnancy in a rural community in Houndé district, Burkina Faso. In-depth interviews were performed on a random sample of 37 pregnant women in order to analyse specific perceptions and attitudes regarding food consumption during pregnancy. In addition to this, an interactive 24-h recall survey was used to compare the food intake of 218 pregnant and 176 non-pregnant women. The majority of interviewees reported dietary restrictions during pregnancy but no consistent pattern of avoided food types was found. Most of the mentioned 'forbidden' foods were in related to physical discomfort during gestation. Interviewees also admitted to ignoring culturally determined food prohibitions/prescriptions. No differences were observed in food intake, food choice and nutrient intake between the group of pregnant and non-pregnant women. During the third trimester of gestation women did not show any major differences in food and nutrient intake compared with women from the first/second trimester. The mean nutrient intakes were found to be insufficient compared with the recommended daily allowances, especially for pregnant women. In conclusion, pregnant women in this rural area of Burkina Faso do not seem to restrict their diet significantly during pregnancy. The additional nutritional requirements of pregnancy are not accounted for in their dietary practises.

Dietary habits of pregnant women in Ogun-East Senatorial Zone, Ogun State, Nigeria: A comparative study

“…However, the mean protein, vitamin C and zinc intakes of rural participants were adequate, but were not up to the RNI among urban participants. This is similar to findings from other studies carried out in Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and some Asian countries (Huybregs et al, 2009;KoryoDabrah et al, 2012;Ojofeitimi et al, 2008;Chang et al, 2009;Esmailzadeh et al, 2008;Mehrotra and Tiwari, 2009). …”

“…These food items are flour-based products, which are often energy-dense, but of sub-optimal nutritive value. This is consistent with findings of poor food habits among pregnant women in developing countries, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (King, 2000;Huybregs et al, 2009;Pathhak et al, 2004;ORC Macro, 2005). In this study, frequency of snack consumption was not significantly associated (p = 0.652) with respondents' location.…”

“…These include: beans, egg, fish, okra and plantain. This is similar to findings in Nwangele, Imo State, Nigeria, rural Hounde district of Burkina Faso and Korle-Bu, Ghana where pregnant women reported having food taboos (Huybregs et al, 2009;Koryo-Dabrah et al, 2012;Madiforo, 2010). The food types avoided in Ghana, Imo and in this study are mainly of the same classes (proteins and vegetables), even though the specific foods differed (Koryo-Dabrah et al, 2012;Madiforo, 2010).…”

“…In addition, vegetables were adjudged most nutritious in pregnancy, in contrast to this study in which some of them were avoided (Ebomoyi, 1998). No consistent pattern of food avoidance was observed in Burkina Faso in contrast to a hospital-based Asian study in which 12.5% of respondents avoided oily foods and 10.4% restricted their potato intake (Ali et al, 2004;Huybregs et al, 2009). The proportion of women with food restrictions was far higher (63.7%) in Pondicherry, India, Korle-Bu, Ghana (48.8%) and Burkina Faso, than in this study (Patil et al, 2010;Koryo-Dabrah et al, 2012;Huybregs et al, 2009).…”

“…A study in South Africa documented the top ten food items most often consumed by pregnant women in the descending order, which include: fresh milk, tea, coffee, cold drinks, maize meal, fruit juice, bread rolls, magou (a fermented non-alcoholic drink), rice and sugar (Kersa, 2004). Huybregs et al (2009) in rural Hounde district, Burkina Faso, assessed the dietary behaviour, food and nutrient intake of pregnant women, using qualitative (in-depth interviews) and 24-h dietary recall methods. Most respondents reported dietary restrictions during pregnancy, but no consistent pattern of avoided food types was found.…”