Kinyua, Felix2011-08-122011-08-122011-08-12http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/746Pica, the habit of eating non-food substances is a worldwide behaviour that is not limited to any geographic area, sex or status. It is common in retarded children and adults with some forms of insanity, hysteria and pregnancy. Geophagia is a form of pica where individuals consume soil and its products. Though the aetiology of Geophagia is not well elucidated, it could result more from habit, culture and superstition than from need for specific nutrients. Investigations to establish a cultural link to Geophagia among the Digo community revealed that 28% of women gave clay to their young children who wanted to taste what the mother ate. Thereafter, children ate clay as food. In clinical practice Geophagia is thought to occur due to iron deficiency anaemia. To establish the causes and effects of the habit in adults, 236 women were recruited for the study. 182 were pregnant geophageous and non geophageous test subjects. 54 were non-pregnant geophageous and non geophageous comparative study subjects. Through a questionnaire, commonly used substances and reasons for ingestion were investigated. The most common substance in the study area was found to be a synthetic product which is imported from Egypt, India and Singapore either as Portland cement or basmati rice and locally sold as roasted clay with herbs and spices. The substance is highly addictive and after long use, it kills appetite for other substances except itself. Investigations for anaemia showed that the substance is associated with high Hb, PCV and MCHC values that subsequently decline leading to chronic anaemia. However, anaemia even with active worm infestation was not able to cause Geophagia. Microbial analysis of the samples indicated contamination with air and faecal-borne bacteria including B.subtilis, P.mirabilis and Str. faecalis. Anti-microbial susceptibility tests showed various reactions to different drugs. Analysis of the trace element profile for local and imported soil substances indicated the presence of high levels of essential and radioactive elements which exposed photographic film. The latter elements include titanium, rubidium, strontium, zirconium, and niobium. The classic radio-nuclides that include uranium-238, thorium-232 and potassium-40 were also detected in significant quantities. All results were shown in text, tables and histograms where applicableenPica (pathology)--Kenya,Kwale, msambweni//Pregnancy--Nutritionall aspectsThesis