Beliefs and Practices of Tribal Pregnant Women toward Foods in Alipurduar District of Eastern India

Riya Mandal; Neeru Bala; Dipak Kumar Bose

Riya Mandal Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Neeru Bala Ethelind College of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Dipak Kumar Bose Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Keywords: Beliefs,, Foods,, Practices,, Taboos,, Tribal community, Tribal pregnant women

Abstract

Objectives: A cross-sectional descriptive and community-based research was done in Alipurduar district of West Bengal to assess the existing beliefs and practices toward the foods during pregnancy. Methodology: A total of 170 respondents were selected randomly from Alipurduar district. The data were collected by the researcher with the help of pre-structure interview schedule. The collected data were arranged, analyzed, and interpreted to draw the conclusion. Results and Discussion: The study inferred that majority of the respondents (55.30%) from Alipurduar beliefs fully on eating papaya may cause a miscarriage, so it should be avoided and 58.82% of respondents were fully beliefs on taking milk with saffron, as saffron makes the baby fair skinned, whereas pomegranate and red apple may cause a baby of very bright and good complexion. Conclusion: Majority of the respondents (73.53%) have beliefs on prayer for preventing complications and for safe delivery. Mass awareness and preventive program about common prevalent diseases should be planned and launched in a location-specific manner in tribal areas. Proper coordination among the health workers and information, education, and communication activists of various institutional departments and disciplines are to be needed to create more effective awareness level among the tribal community for a real participatory development as mentioned in the Constitution of India.

Author Biographies

Riya Mandal, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Research Scholar, Department of Food, Nutrition and Public Health,

Neeru Bala, Ethelind College of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Associate Professor, Department of Food, Nutrition and Public Health,

Dipak Kumar Bose, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication,

References

1. Mintz SW, Du Bois CM. The anthropology of food and eating. Annu Rev
Anthropol 2002;31:99-119.
2. Buruiana C. Taboos and social order. The socio-anthropological deciphering
of interdictions. Rev Rom Sociol 2003;14:529-33.
3. Bailey MD. From sorcery to witchcraft: Clerical conceptions of magic in
the later middle ages. Univ Chic Press 2001;76:960-90.
4. Agarwal KN, Agarwal DK, Agarwal A, Prasad R, Rai S, Agarwal S, et al.
Impact of the integrated child development services (ICDS) on maternal
nutrition and birth weight in rural Varanasi. Indian Pediatr 2000;37:1321-27.
5. Anderson L, Dibble MV, Turkki PR, Mitchell HS, Rynbergen HJ. Nutrition
in Health and Disease. 17th ed. East Washington, Philadelphia, PA: J.B.
Lippincoott Company; 1982. p. 291-6.
6. Siddiqui SA, Salam A. Socioeconomic inequalities in use of delivery care
services in India. J Obstet Gynecol India 2006;56:123-7.
7. Sanghvi T, Ameringen MV, Baker J, Fiedler J. Vitamin and mineral
deficiencies technical situation analysis: A report for the ten year strategy
for the reduction of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Food Nutr Bull
2007;28 Suppl 1:S160-219.
8. Yagnik CS, Naik SS, Bhat DS. The relationship between obesity, plasma
immuno-reactive insulin concentration and blood pressure in newly
diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes Med 1993;10:146-51.