Although this behavior is known to occur in pregnant Latina immigrants in the Los Angeles area, 9 there are no detailed descriptions of the practice in Mexican-born women either in theUnited States or in Mexico. Pica during pregnancy is a worldwide phenomenon, 5, 6, 7, 8but in the United States it has been studied largely in the South, with an occasional report from the Midwest. Recent articles exploring the practice 1, 2, 3, 4have been contradictory and present little conclusive evidence about its cause and prevalence. 1 Pica in children has been studied extensively, but pica during pregnancy remains understudied and underreported. Pica-the ingestion of nonfood items-has aroused the curiosity of medical personnel since at least the 16thcentury. Conclusion The high reported rate of pica in this sample indicates that pregnant Mexican-born women should be screened for pica and educated about the potentially serious effects on the fetus and mother. Results The prevalence of pica during pregnancy was 44% (n= 33) in the Ensenada group and 31% (n = 46) in the southern California group.Those who reported pica behavior more commonly had a relative who also practiced pica. Participants Of a total of 225 Mexican-born women, 75(33%) were interviewed in Ensenada, and 150 (67%) were interviewed in southernCalifornia. SettingA low-income community on the outskirts of Ensenada, Mexico, and clinics serving low-income people in southern California (Santa Ana, Bakersfield, andLos Angeles). Design A convenience sample of informants was interviewed with a questionnaire containing open-ended and closed-ended questions. Objective To describe pica behavior (ingestion of nonfood items) in pregnant low-income Mexicon-born women in Mexico and the United States.
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