Cultural Beliefs and Perceptions of 
       Maternal Diet and Weight Gain during 
       Pregnancy and Postpartum Family 
       Planning in Egypt  
       Authors: Justine Kavle, Sohair Mehanna, Ghada Khan, Mohamed Hassan, Gulsen 
       Saleh, and Rae Galloway  
        
       April 2014 
        
        
        
         
        Table of Contents  
        TABLES AND FIGURES ........................................................................................................................... iv 
        ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................ v 
        ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................................... vi 
        EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... vii 
         Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... vii 
         Methods.......................................................................................................................................................... vii 
         Key Findings .................................................................................................................................................. viii 
         Discussion and Recommendations ................................................................................................................ x 
         Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... xi 
        INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 
         Methods............................................................................................................................................................ 2 
        RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................. 5 
         Characteristics of Study Participants .............................................................................................................. 5 
         Advice on Nutrition and Diet during Pregnancy and Lactation ..................................................................... 6 
         Maternal Diet during Pregnancy ..................................................................................................................... 7 
         Weight Gain during Pregnancy ..................................................................................................................... 10 
         Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy ............................................................................. 11 
         Cultural Perceptions of Foods Mothers Should Consume during Lactation ............................................. 13 
         Cultural Perceptions of Appropriate Foods for Non-Lactating Women ...................................................... 15 
         Knowledge and Use of LAM for Women in the first 6 months Postpartum ............................................... 16 
         Use of Other Family Planning Methods in the Extended Postpartum Period and in the 2 Years  
         following Childbirth ....................................................................................................................................... 18 
        DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................................................ 19 
         Maternal Diet ................................................................................................................................................ 19 
         Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation during Antenatal Care ............................................................................. 21 
         Weight Gain during Pregnancy ..................................................................................................................... 22 
         Birth Spacing and Family Planning .............................................................................................................. 22 
        CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 23 
        REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 24 
        APPENDIX 1: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR PREGNANT, LACTATING, AND NON-LACTATING WOMEN ......... 26 
         
                        
         
        Cultural Beliefs and Perceptions                 iii 
         
        Tables and Figures 
        Figure 1. Adapted WHO Framework of Factors Associated with Stunting  ............................................... 2 
        Table 1. Characteristics of Pregnant Mother Study Participants in Upper and Lower Egypt .......................... 5 
        Table 2. Characteristics of Study Participants with Children Under Age Two in Upper and  
        Lower Egypt .................................................................................................................................................. 5 
        Table 3. Perceived Harms of Taboo Foods during Pregnancy, According to Currently Pregnant, 
        Lactating, and Non-Lactating Egyptian Women in Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt .................................. 9 
        Table 4. Iron, Folic Acid, and Iron and Folic Acid Supplements Prescribed to Women during  
        Antenatal Care, Upper and Lower Egypt .................................................................................................. 13 
        Table 5. Counseling Messages for Maternal Diet During Pregnancy, Lactation, and Non-Lactation ..... 20 
        Table 6. Counseling Messages for Anemia and Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy ..... 21 
        Table 7. Recommended Weight Gain during Pregnancy Based On Pre-Pregnancy Weight (Institute of 
        Medicine, Updated Guidelines for Weight Gain during Pregnancy, 2009) ........................................... 22 
         
                        
         
        iv                               Cultural Beliefs and Perceptions