A previous study on food consumption patterns in
Southern Thailand by Pratoomsindh et al., 19863 found that
Thai-Muslim women consumed less vegetables than Thai-
Buddhist women, but more fruit and fat, although it did not
examine food intake patterns in pregnant women specifically.
Women from southern Thailand, especially the
rural provinces bordering Malaysia where the Muslim
religion predominates, are well known to have low economic
development and formal education, poor health
status and a high prevalence of poor pregnancy outcomes.
Their pregnancy related maternal mortality rate of 25.5 per
100,000 live births4 is considered to be high. While religious
teachings emphasise good health and proper
nutrition, religious practices lead to diets that are somewhat
different from those of the Thai-Buddhist population
(eg. avoidance of haram foods, including pork). This is
exacerbated by poverty and relatively low levels of education.
Since prenatal maternal nutritional status is a risk
factor for unwanted outcomes, understanding of this status
may assist interventions to reduce their risk. Very few
studies have looked at the dietary habits during pregnancy
in Thai-Muslim pregnant women. Information on the
dietary pattern of this population is essential to the
planning of intervention programs.
The study was undertaken to examine community factors
impacting on food habits, and to describe food and nutrient