According to research by Cardiff University, children who experience eating difficulties, including undereating, overeating, and fussy eating, are more likely to experience pica.
By OLUFUNKE
This week, I would like us to talk more about children and pregnancy pica. Before I proceed, I would like to share one unwholesome practice that has become common during food processing lately.
Some weeks ago, a woman shared on Facebook how she usually fermented her cassava for garri, and to my surprise, she added tablets of painkillers!
Our foods are no longer safe!
According to research by Cardiff University, children who experience eating difficulties, including undereating, overeating, and fussy eating, are more likely to experience pica.
In collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for Eating Disorders at the University of North Carolina and the Eating Disorders Research Unit at the Capital Region of Denmark Mental Health Services, a new study has improved the understanding of the prevalence of pica across different stages of childhood and provided insights into other conditions that occur alongside it.
Dr Samuel Chawner, of Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, said, “Pica is a feeding disorder in which someone eats non-food substances that have no nutritional value, such as paper, soap, paint, chalk, or ice. It’s a serious feeding and eating disorder.”
The researchers used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, an ongoing population-based birth cohort study that started in the 1990s, to investigate various factors influencing the health and development of children. The Cardiff researchers analysed data from over 10,000 caregivers in the Avon study to investigate the prevalence of pica in the population.
The study showed that pica was most common in children at 36 months, with 2.29 per cent of caregivers reporting pica in their child, and that its occurrence decreased as children grew older.
It was also found that children with autism and developmental delays were more likely to experience pica than those without.
Additionally, the researchers found that pica behaviours may be associated with broader eating difficulties.
“We found that the presence of pica was not related to the child’s BMI, and therefore clinicians should screen for pica behaviours in children of all weights and sizes.
“Our findings also showed that children who exhibit undereating, overeating, and food fussiness were more likely to experience pica, and this may represent a group to focus on to monitor potential pica behaviour. Children with developmental delays or autism may also benefit from pica screening and diagnosis.
“Our research has enriched our understanding of the prevalence of pica across different stages of childhood in the general population. It also gives us clearer insights into other conditions that co-occur with pica. This will help clinicians provide better support to children who experience pica and their caregivers in the future,” added Dr Samuel Chawner.
“I think this research helps us get one step closer to developing more tailored treatment options for children with pica since we now have a better idea of how these behaviours present and persist throughout early childhood,” added Dr Natalie Papini of the University of North Carolina.
If you are pregnant, you are at a higher risk of anaemia, which may cause pica.
One study involving 286 pregnant women in Ghana found that those most at risk of pica were women with poor nutrition or nutrient deficiencies, as well as those with a history of, or cultural exposure to, eating non-food items such as clay, which is sometimes consumed as medicine in certain cultures.
The study also found that 47.5 per cent of the women had some form of pica during pregnancy. The most commonly consumed items were white clay and ice.
The researchers further noted that some participants believed the white clay and ice had nutritional value.
They also observed that many participants sought these non-food items because they were appealing and felt the scent or taste helped alleviate nausea.
No test can determine whether your unusual cravings are due to pica. Instead, your OB-GYN will review your medical history and may order blood tests to determine whether you have low levels of certain vitamins and minerals.
Your OB might also recommend taking a different prenatal vitamin and eating a more balanced diet. If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting, nutritional meal replacement drinks might be a good temporary fix until your appetite returns.
In most cases, pregnancy pica goes away on its own once nutritional deficiencies are addressed or after childbirth.
How is Pica treated?
Generally, pica can be difficult to diagnose unless you inform your doctor about your non-food cravings.
If your doctor suspects pica, you may be referred for a blood test to check your iron levels and screen for any signs of lead poisoning.