A cross-sectional analytical study of geophagia practices and blood metal concentrations in pregnant women in Johannesburg, South Africa

South African Medical Journal

Volumn 104, Issue 8, 2014, Pages 568-573

  Mathee, Angela ^a,b,c   Naicker, Nisha ^a,b   Kootbodien, Tahira ^a   Mahuma, Tshepo ^a   Nkomo, Palesa ^a   Naik, Inakshi ^d   De Wet, Thea ^c  

^a SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL   (South Africa)

^b UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND   (South Africa)

^c UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG   (South Africa)

^d National Centre for Occupational Health   (South Africa)

Author keywords

Geophagia; Lead exposure; Migrants; Pica; Pregnancy; South Africa

Indexed keywords

ARSENIC; CADMIUM; LEAD; MERCURY; METAL;

ADULT; ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION; ANEMIA; ARTICLE; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY; FEMALE; GEOPHAGIA; HEAVY METAL BLOOD LEVEL; HEMOGLOBIN BLOOD LEVEL; HUMAN; LEAD BLOOD LEVEL; MASS SPECTROMETRY; PARITY; PICA; PREGNANT WOMAN; PREVALENCE; RISK FACTOR; SOIL; SOUTH AFRICA; STRUCTURED INTERVIEW; ADOLESCENT; BLOOD; MIDDLE AGED; PREGNANCY; PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS; STATISTICAL MODEL;

ADOLESCENT; ADULT; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES; FEMALE; HUMANS; LOGISTIC MODELS; METALS; MIDDLE AGED; PICA; PREGNANCY; PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS; PREVALENCE; SOUTH AFRICA;

EID: 84905279987     PISSN: 02569574     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.7466     Document Type: Article

References (23)

1. Woywodt A, Kiss A. Geophagia: The history of earth-eating. J R Soc Med 2002;95(3):143-146. [http:// dx.doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.95.3.143]
2. Njiru H, Elchalal U, Paltiel O. Geophagy during pregnancy in Africa: A literature review. Obstet Gynecol Surv 2011;66(7):452-459. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/OGX.0b013e318232a034]
3. Al-Rmalli SW, Jenkins RO, Watts MJ, et al. Risk of human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements from geophagy: Trace element analysis of baked clay using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Environ Health 2010;9(1):79. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-9-79]
4. Simpson E, Mull JD, Longley E, et al. Pica during pregnancy in low-income women born in Mexico. West J Med 2000;173(1):20-24. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ewjm.173.1.20]
5. Nyaruhucha CN. Food cravings, aversions and pica among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzan J Health Res 2009;11(1):29-34.
6. Ngozi PO. Pica practices of pregnant women in Nairobi, Kenya. East Afr Med J 2008;85(2):72-79. [http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/eamj.v85i2.9609]
7. Lanzkowsky P. Investigation into the aetiology and treatment of pica. Arch Dis Child 1959;34(174):140-148. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.34.174.140]
8. Saathoff E, Olsen A, Kvalsvig JD, et al. Geophagy and its association with geohelminth infection in rural schoolchildren from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2002;96(5):485-490. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0035-9203(02)90413-X]
9. Walker AR, Walker BF, Jones J, et al. Nausea and vomiting and dietary cravings and aversions during pregnancy in South African women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1985;92(5):484-489. [http://dx.doi. org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1985.tb01353.x]
10. George G, Ndip E. Prevalence of geophagia and its possible implications to health-a study in rural South Africa. Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Environmental Science and Development (IPCBEE), Singapore, 26-28 February 2011. http://www.ipcbee.com/vol4/37-ICESD2011D10046.pdf (accessed 2 July 2014).
11. Ekosse GIE, de Jager L, Ngole V. Traditional mining and mineralogy of geophagic clays from Limpopo and Free State provinces, South Africa. African Journal of Biotechnology 2010;9(47):8058-8067. [http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/AJB10.296]
12. Johns T, Duquette M. Detoxification and mineral supplementation as functions of geophagy. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;53(2):448-456.
13. Thihalolipavan S, Candalla BM, Ehrlich J. Examining pica in NYC pregnant women with elevated blood lead levels. Matern Child Health J 2013;17(1):49-55. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-0947-5]
14. McKenna D. Myopathy, hypokalaemia and pica (geophagia) in pregnancy. Ulster Med J 2006;75(2):159-160.
15. Chaushev P, Dreyer M, Gledhill R. Hypokalemic myopathy due to ingestion of earth. J Neurol 2003;250(1):114-115. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-003-0934-2]
16. Tong S, von Schirnding YE, Prapamontol T. Environmental lead exposure: A public health problem of global dimensions. Bull World Health Organ 2000;78(9):1068-1077.
17. Goyer RA. Transplacental transport of lead. Environ Health Perspect 1990;89(6):101-105. [http:// dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9089101]
18. Kwong WT, Phyllis F, Semba RD. Interactions between iron defeciency and lead poisoning: Epidemiology and pathogenesis. Sci Total Environ 2004;330(1):21-37. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. scitotenv.2004.03.017]
19. Veale DJ, Furman KI, Oliver DW. South African traditional herbal medicines used during pregnancy and childbirth. J Ethnopharmacol 1992;36(3):185-191. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(92)90043-Q]
20. Klitzman S, Sharma A, Nicaj L, et al. Lead poisoning among pregnant women in New York City: Risk factors and screening practices. J Urban Health 2002;79(2):225-237. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ jurban/79.2.225]
21. Abrahams PW, Follansbee MH, Hunt A, et al. Iron nutrition and possible lead toxicity: An appraisal of geophagy undertaken by pregnant women of UK Asian communities. Appl Geochem 2006;21(1):98-108. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2005.09.015]
22. World Health Organization. Trace elements in human nutrition and health. 1996. http://www.who.int/ nutrition/publications/micronutrients/9241561734/en/ (accessed 2 July 2014).
23. Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, 1995: Occupation, Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993). http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/downloads/legislation/acts/occupational-health-and-safety/ amendments/Amended%20Act%20-%20Occupational%20Health%20and%20Safety.pdf (accessed 2 July 2014).