Cultural Beliefs and Perceptions of Maternal Diet and Weight Gain during Pregnancy and Postpartum Family Planning in Egypt

Abstract

Since 2005 Egypt has faced increased levels of food insecurity combined with rising poverty rates and food prices and successive crises including the avian influenza epidemic (2006) and food fuel and financial crises (2007-2009) resulting in reduced household access to food and purchasing power. An increase in the prevalence of stunting between the 2005 and 2008 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) coincided with the avian influenza outbreak in Lower Egypt. The purpose of this study conducted by the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) was to address factors related to stunting within the context of the rise in stunting in Lower Egypt in comparison to Upper Egypt where little change in stunting has occurred. This study addressed factors related to stunting focusing on cultural perceptions and beliefs about infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices while also examining perceptions of maternal dietary practices and how these perceptions can influence how mothers feed their children and families. This operations research study addressed the following four objectives: 1) identify gaps and positive aspects of IYCF practices through the application of the Trials for Improved Practices (TIPs) methodology with Egyptian mothers; 2) understand cultural beliefs perceptions behaviors and motivating factors that may facilitate or act as a barrier to optimal IYCF practices and how these factors may explain the rise in stunting in Lower Egypt including perceptions related to maternal diet weight gain and birth spacing; 3) ascertain the role of grandmothers fathers and health care providers in IYCF; and 4) examine changes in growth perceived by mothers other caretakers and health care providers resulting from the avian influenza outbreak within the context of the rise in stunting in Lower Egypt during the previous 5-6 years. This report will specifically address behaviors perceptions and cultural beliefs in relation to maternal dietary intake during pregnancy lactation and non-lactation weight gain during pregnancy birth spacing and family planning and how these beliefs may provide context for improving IYCF practices.