6.5.2  Cultural factors

Can you think of health beliefs that might contribute to nutritional problems in your own community? There may be many and it can be hard to get people to realise that these beliefs have a negative impact on their or their children’s bodies.

For example, abrupt weaning due to pregnancy, the belief that food should not be given to a child who is suffering from measles or diarrhoea, and sharing food from the same bowl between different children, can result in the child getting less than their body requirements, are examples of some of the cultural factors that may affect nutrition.