"A prospective study done on African American women reported 38% prevalence rate of Pica. Often females who are pregnant have pica".
"Pica is considered to be non-pathological up to 2 years of age because they are in habit of exploring things while mouthing and teething." This means there is no certain way to know how one contracts pica. It is not caused by a physical or mental disorder it has no origin that we know of in research. -(Bhatia, 2014, pp. 144-146) |
The exact prevalence of this disorder is usually unreported due to the shame of unusual eating habits and behaviors.
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As with any disorder, one must look into the developmental and sociocultural context in order to diagnose Pica.
A common practice in communities all over the world, also known as cultural pica, has raised many eyebrows about the actual definition of what constitutes as non-nutritive items.
A very popular form of Pica, geophagia (clay eating), is practiced in the US and in Africa among women and children. Although it is a worldwide practice, Pica is found more commonly in underdeveloped counties and among the poor, African American women , pregnant women and more often than so, children (Delhi,2014).
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Irene Choge from Kenya reports the common consumption of clay in Kenya by women. |
Pica is associated with pregnancy, childbearing, and breastfeeding. It is popular in many rural communities in India were women report consumption of mud, clay, ash, lime, charcoal, and brick in response to their cravings (Nag, 1994).Abraham and Parsons reported that in other countries such as East Africa women believe pica is embedded in fertility rituals and gives hope for future offspring's( as cited in Stiegler,2005, p.27).