Geophagia: A cultural-nutrition health-seeking behaviour with no redeeming psycho-social qualities

Aim: We investigated if Geophagia is restricted to only pregnant and lactating women in Ghana. We also investigated if the key driver of Geophagia is poverty and other socio-cultural factors. Methods: This analysis was part of a broader national study of resilience among thepopulation of Ghana (N=2,000). Regional comparisons were made possible due to the stratified and random selection of representations that were similar in characteristics such as being urban or rural, ethnicity, religion and gender. Results: It was found that Geophagia was present among both females and males and was not restricted to pregnant and lactating women. Geophagia was not driven by poverty or the lack of formal education or the presence of gainful employment. Geophagia was practiced by both urban and rural residents irrespective of religious proclivities and devotion. The assertion that Geophagia was an instinctive primordial response to gastro-intestinal disturbances was not sustained by the data in this study, although the literature review suggested such in calves and lambs. Conclusion: In order to address the potential health threats posed by Geophagia, the key cultural drivers need to be studied and understood. We also need to appreciate the shocks and stresses that create such desires. It is not a case of mental illness and it cannot be concluded that Geophagia is driven by a psychiatric disorder. This paper would be disseminated to inform policy in Ghana and beyond

Geophagia: A cultural-nutrition health-seeking behaviour with no redeeming psycho-social qualities

Aim: We investigated if Geophagia is restricted to only pregnant and lactating women in Ghana. We also investigated if the key driver of Geophagia is poverty and other socio-cultural factors.Methods: This analysis was part of a broader national study of resilience among thepopulation of Ghana (N=2,000). Regional comparisons were made possible due to the stratified and random selection of representations that were similar in characteristics such as being urban or rural, ethnicity, religion and gender.Results: It was found that Geophagia was present among both females and males and was not restricted to pregnant and lactating women. Geophagia was not driven by poverty or the lack of formal education or the presence of gainful employment. Geophagia was practiced by both urban and rural residents irrespective of religious proclivities and devotion. The assertion that Geophagia was an instinctive primordial response to gastro-intestinal disturbances was not sustained by the data in this study, although the literature review suggested such in calves and lambs.Conclusion: In order to address the potential health threats posed by Geophagia, the key cultural drivers need to be studied and understood. We also need to appreciate the shocks and stresses that create such desires. It is not a case of mental illness and it cannot be concluded that Geophagia is driven by a psychiatric disorder. This paper would be disseminated to inform policy in Ghana and beyond

Is Geophagia a Health-Seeking Behavior or an Ethnic Remedy towards Greater Personal Resilience?

Objective: We investigated if Geophagia was a health-seeking behavior or a socio-cultural remedy towards enhanced personal resilience. Method: We used a sample size of 2,000 with 90% power to detect an effect size of 30% at significance level of 5%. We randomly selected one or more district, municipality or metropolitan area from each of the 10 regions (Rosemary and Valadez, 2013). We randomly selected one or more communities from each of that and then use the random walk method to evaluate households within each community till the quota for the region was met (Milligan, et al., 2004). Regional comparisons were made possible due to the stratified and random selection of representations that were similar in characteristics such as being urban or rural, then ethnicity, religion and gender. We obtained Ethical Approval to conduct the assessment. Result: The result shows that Geophagia is a cultural nutritional reality which is practiced widely in Ghana. It also appears to be a health-seeking behavior that seems to enhance the resilience of the practitioners against certain health challenges. Discussion: The research on Geophagia needs to be reconsidered without any prejudicial biases to reflect the true cultural and health reasons for it. Conclusion: Geophagia is not a result of food insecurity or food scarcity. It is a nutritional habit which may require more than the presence of food to break it