Table 3 Summary of other taboos/misbeliefs during pregnancy and reasons attached to them, Acholi subregion, Northern Uganda, 2022
Misbeliefs/other taboos | Reasons attached to it | Participants who mentioned the misbelief/taboo and reasons |
|---|---|---|
Anybody who killed a bird should not enter a house where a pregnant woman is lives | Causes fetal blindness | A few of the pregnant women |
Pregnant women should not touch soil from graves | Causes miscarriage | A few of the pregnant women |
Pregnant women are not allowed to shape or shave their hair (it makes the baby’s head bald) | It makes the baby’s head becomes bald | A few of the pregnant women |
Pregnant women should not walk over anthills | It causes miscarriage, body and sore tongue | Majority of the TBAS, Spouses of the pregnant women and a few of the pregnant women |
Pregnant women should not slaughter chicken or touch slaughtered chicken | It causes miscariage | Majority of the TBAs and pregnant women |
Pregnant women should not have sex especially in the 3rd trimester | Causes the sperm to plaster onto the fetal body | Majority of the Pregnant women and their spouses |
Pregnant women are not allowed to sit on animal’s hide or skin | Causes miscarriage | A few of the TBAs and Rwodi |
Pregnant women are not allowed to touch needle | Causes miscarriage | Majority of the TBAs, Pregnant women and Rwodi |