CGPH FACULTY: Lia Fernald
DATE OF PUBLICATION: May 2014
REGION: Latin America
REFERENCE: Lin JW, Temple L, Trujillo C, Mejia-Rodriquez F, Rosas LG, Fernald L, Young SL. Pica during pregnancy among Mexican-born women: a formative study. Matern Child Nutr. 2014 May 1. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12120.
SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Although pica, the craving and purposive consumption of non-food substances, is common among many populations, especially during pregnancy, the health consequences are not well understood. Further, very little is known about pica among Mexican populations in the United States and Mexico. Therefore, we conducted formative research to understand pica in this understudied population. Our objectives were to identify the frequency and types of pica behaviours, to understand perceived aetiologies and consequences of pica and to ascertain if the behaviour was common enough to warrant a larger study. Perceived consequences of unfulfilled pica cravings were birthmarks or fetal loss; fulfilled pica cravings were also thought to be generally harmful to the mother or child, with several women specifying toxic lead, pesticides or ‘worms’. In sum, pica among Mexican women is common enough to warrant a larger epidemiologic study of its sociodemographic correlates and physiological consequences.
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