health and social impacts of geophagy in panama

introduction: geophagy is a human behaviour involving the ingestion of earthy substances such as soil and clay. common among pregnant women in rural, tropical areas, it is culturally accepted within some societies and stigmatized within others. There is no scientific consensus on the effects of geophagy on human health. This study was developed as a comprehensive diagnostic to assess the causes, social aspects and potential health impacts of geophagy among pregnant women in rural panama. Methods: private, structured interviews (n=41) were carried out with women in ten subsistence community farms in the province of Veraguas and the ngöbe-bugle comarca. Additional interviews with healthcare workers were conducted at nearby healthcare facilities. five soil samples were collected in locations indicated by confirmed geophagists, subjected to simulated human digestion and analyzed for mineral composition and parasite eggs. results: There is no cultural or religious element to the practice; rather it seems to be driven by physiological desires tied to the smell of the material. prevalence is higher among women with lower education levels and poorer nutritional status suggesting that the practice is associated with low socioeconomic status. soil analysis did not indicate presence of parasites, but there are potential nutritional benefits of the practice by providing essential minerals missing in the diet. discussion: we find that geophagy in panama may offer nutritional benefits. however, without a clearer understanding of specific effects of soil in the gastrointestinal tract, it is difficult to determine direct biophysical impacts of geophagy. KeywordS Geophagy, Health, Pregnancy *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: 2 January 2011 Revised: 5 March 2011 Lachlan Crawford*1, Katherine Bodkin1 1McGill School of Environment, McGill University, 3534 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2A7