Food Taboo and Myth Among Pregnant Mothers in Gedeo Zone, South Ethiopia: a Qualitative Study

Abstract Background: Food taboo is a deliberately restriction of oneself from different kinds of foods and drinks for different reasons. Even if a balanced diet is needed during pregnancy for both the health of the mother and the fetus, pregnant women restrict themselves from many essential nutrients which will endanger both the mother's and the baby's health .The study is aimed to explore food taboos and myths among pregnant women in Gedeo zone from March 25 to May 25, 2020, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based phenomenological approach was conducted. In-depth and key informant interviews were used to collect data from March 25 to May 25, 2020 in Gedeo. Convenient sampling was employed to recruit participants from the households of targeted villages. A total of 32 in-depth interviews with pregnant mothers, lactating women, elderly women, and husbands were conducted. The sample size was determined based on the concept of saturation. The data was collected by the investigators using semi-structured guiding questions. The collected data were analyzed using the thematic content analysis technique. Data coding and analysis were facilitated by using Open code version 4.0 software.Result: Thirty-two study participants were involved. During pregnancy, foods that are sweet, “good”, spicy foods, and much food were tabooed for pregnant.Conclusion: Foods that are prohibited for pregnant women have been discovered in the Gedeo zone. Pregnant women avoid eating a wide variety of foods, including good foods, sweet foods, much food, and spicy foods. Not eating this foods may prone the mother even the baby for malnutrition in the short or long run.Recommendation: Strategic health communication that focuses on refuting misconceptions such as pregnant women should eat less, certain foods cause diseases in both the mother and the fetus, and fetus skin discoloration is necessary. Maternal and child Health clinics and health extension workers must take the lead in coordinating this awareness-building effort. They should also put in place methods for identifying women on a regular basis, following food taboos, determining the reasons, and providing appropriate nutrition instruction.