Geophagia in pregnancy and its association with nutritional status - A prospective cohort study in rural north-eastern Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Geophagia or soil-eating behavior is common among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, however its relationship with nutritional status demands further investigation. Using a prospective pregnancy cohort from north-eastern Tanzania, we examined the characteristics of geophagia and its association with nutritional status parameters (mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and hemoglobin) before conception and throughout the gestational period.

Methods

Pregnant women (n = 530) were interviewed in each trimester regarding their soil-eating habits. Serum concentrations of vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and hemoglobin, and MUAC were measured before conception and in each trimester. Cross-sectional comparisons between women who ate and did no

SUBMITTER: Eberl EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11881378 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature