Pica in pregnant women in Zaria, Nigeria.

To determine the prevalence of pica, and factors associated with pica in pregnant women in Zaria. Using a structured questionnaire administered by medical staff, information was obtained from all newly delivered mothers in the Obstetric Unit of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, (ABUTH) Zaria, over a two week period. Statistical analyses included 95% confidence intervals, chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. The prevalence of pica among the subjects was 50%. The prevalence of non-food pica was significantly higher than that for food pica (difference = 17.8%, 95% confidence interval = 8.3 to 27.3%). There was a significant association between pica in family, friends or other members of the community and pica in the index pregnancy (chi 2 = 10.78, p = 0.007). Pica is common in pregnant women in Zaria, and their care should, therefore, include adequate dietary history and counselling. There is also a need to raise public awareness of the adverse effects of this practice.