The influence of diet on morning sickness: a cross-cultural study

Medical Anthropology • Vol/Iss. 8 • Published In • Pages: 71-75 •
By Minturn, Leigh, Weiher, Ann Wylie

Abstract

This article proposes that differences in diet may account for the presence or absence of morning sickness in a society. Data suggest that morning sickness is not a universal symptom of pregnancy, and there are significant differences in foods consumed where morning sickness does not occur, including more maize, fats, and vegetables.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
HRAF Collection of Ethnography (paper/fiche)Researchers Own
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)Other researchers

Hypotheses (7)

HypothesisSupported
Morning sickness will be negatively associated with eating maize as a staple food (72).Supported
Morning sickness will be negatively associated with the frequency of vegetable consumption (72).Supported
Morning sickness will be negatively associated with the frequency of fat consumption (72).Supported
The presence or absence of morning sickness will be associated with various societal variables, including type and intensity of agriculture, settlement pattern, and community size (72).Not Supported
The presence of absence of morning sickness will be correlated with the societal importance of women's work in the subsistence economy (72).Not Supported
The presence of absence of morning sickness will be related to the presence of absence of food taboos and similarly for food cravings (72).Not Supported
People in societies without morning sickness will consume green vegetables and fat more frequently in than societies where morning sickness is present (74).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Amelia Piazza