Ethnic Attitudes towards Snail-meat Intake during Pregnancy and Other Correlates of Snail-Meat Consumption among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Snail-meat is probably the greatest subject of food prohibitions in several African climes and beyond. These prohibitions fuel deficiencies of micronutrients which contributes significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality. Yet, motivations of consuming prohibited foods such as snail-meat are seemingly non-existent.
Objective: This study was designed to examine ethnic attitudes towards snail-meat intake during pregnancy and other correlates of snail-meat consumption among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Method: Using cross-sectional design, four-hundred copies of a structured questionnaire were administered to randomly selected respondents. Multi-item measures were used to assess variables. Data were analysed using One-way ANOVA and Spearman rank correlation-coefficient.
Results: Univariate analysis shows that 62.3% of respondents have consumed snail-meat since they became pregnant. Age, marital status, religion and ethnicity have no significant effects on snail-meat consumption (p> 0.05) but education did (p< 0.05). Health motivation, convenience, sensory appeal, ethnic attitudes and willingness-to-consume are significantly and positively related to snail-meat consumption but price is significantly and inversely related to same (p< 0.05). Food insecurity and financial capacity maintained insignificant relationship with this consumption (p> 0.05).
Conclusion: Having decreased education is predisposing towards increased snail-meat consumption. Perceived importance of health benefits accruable from snail-meat consumption, perceived ease at which snail-meat could be accessed/prepared, snail-meat's attraction to the senses, cost, ethnic group's disposition towards the consumption of snail-meat during pregnancy and stimulus to consume snail-meat during pregnancy are significant social phenomenon maneuvering snail-meat intake among pregnant women in the study area.

Keywords: Snail, consumption, ethnic group, health motivation, convenience