The influence of pica practice on nutritional status, stress and anxiety of pregnant women

Abstract

Pica is a minor disorder in pregnancy associated with strong craving for food or non -food substances of little or no nutritional value. ObjectiveThe study assesses the characteristics of pica practice among pregnant women and evaluates its influence on the nutritional status, anxiety and stress of pregnant women. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending the antenatal unit of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. Pregnant women took a survey for presence of pica practice. Women with pica practice were assessed for dietary information, haemoglobin, pre-pregnant body mass index and stool analysis. Women's anxiety and stress were assessed using Beck anxiety inventory scale and Lipp Stress Inventory Scale. ResultsOut of 739 pregnant women screened, 220 (29.7%) women were found to practice pica. Of the 220 women, 42.2% ingested food substances, 41% ingested non-food substance and 16.8% consumed both. The most common substances craved for were: unripe mango (42.2%), pagophagia (23.8%), ash (41%) and geophagia (19%). Amongst the women with pica, 67.3% women had anaemia, 36% were underweight and 9.5% were overweight. About 40% women had low anxiety, 43% had moderate anxiety and 17% had severe anxiety. Distribution of women based on phases of stress found 15.4% in alert phase, 65% in resistance phase, 1.4% in near exhaustion phase, and 18.2% in exhaustions phase. ConclusionThe study identified that pica practice is not limited to ingestion of edible substances alone. Women practicing pica during pregnancy had anaemia, increased levels of stress and anxiety.