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

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.