Care International has escalated its efforts to combat harmful cultural practices affecting the dietary habits of women of reproductive age and children under five in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region.
Identified as significant barriers to nutrition, these practices include various food taboos that restrict the consumption of specific items, contributing to high levels of malnutrition.
These taboos encompass restrictions on consuming the meat of deceased animals, offals, liver, specific vegetables, chicken, and other items. Local elders warn that individuals who disregard these prohibitions may suffer consequences ranging from illness, infertility, and vaginal discharge to miscarriages or even involvement in prostitution, depending on the specific taboo violated.
Johnson Kodoit, an elder from Kangole Middle Village in Kangole Town Council, emphasized the influential role of elders in determining acceptable food choices.
Kodoit elaborated that pregnant women who consume offal may encounter labor complications, while children might develop inappropriate behaviors such as prostitution if they consume certain foods. Additionally, Kodoit highlighted that children should avoid eating liver to prevent them from defecating indoors. He stressed that these restrictions are designed to safeguard the well-being of women and children.
“If we tend to consume these animal parts like liver, reproductive organs, and offals, we risk facing dire consequences such as sickness, infertility, and even engaging in prostitution, even men,” Kodoit remarked.
Stella Abura, a mother of seven from the same village, affirmed the strict adherence to these norms, acknowledging the burdens they impose on women’s responsibilities. She recounted instances where children’s consumption of forbidden foods led to undesirable outcomes, underscoring the importance of compliance with cultural norms.
Care International’s project, named Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE), aims to address these harmful cultural practices affecting nutrition in the region. Judith Chale, the Nutrition Hub Manager for Karamoja at Care International, highlighted ongoing assessments in various districts to understand the social norms influencing food behaviors among the Karamojong communities.
Chale emphasized the significance of this research in guiding culturally sensitive approaches to tackle food and nutrition challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and young children. Despite the entrenched nature of these taboos, initiatives like CASCADE offer hope for positive change in the region’s nutrition landscape.