Food taboo among pregnant women and children in the Kaili tribe Palu City, Indonesia

Abstract

Objective

The study aimed to explore food taboos among pregnant women and children in the city of Palu.

Methods

It was a qualitative study with 40 people and 8 traditional leaders of Kaili tribe in the regions of Palu city were included. Questionnaires and recording tools were used as study instruments.

Results

The food that prohibited to be prepared for children are duck, rice, cassava, lamb, moringa leaves, purple sweet potatoes, corn, kale, cassava leaves while pregnant women are prohibited to consume brown sugar, pineapple, durian, sticky rice, mango, yellow pumpkin, banana sticks. Food prohibited for those two groups included sago, squid, shrimp, crab, fish, jackfruit, eggplant. Food taboo in pregnant women is mostly fruit and protein for children.

Conclusion

The food taboo is still commonly found in the Kaili tribe in Palu City. The foods are believed to induce something negative and are mystical things if consumed in groups of people or certain circumstances. Food taboos can cause limited intake of nutrients consumed, resulting in malnutrition and impact on the quality of human resources in the future.