Pica type of ‘nonfood’ articles eaten by Ajmer children and their significance

Abstract

The significance of type of material eaten by 180 cases of pica (111 syob and 69 girls) was studied in relation to socio-economic environment and nutritional deficiencies. Mean (±FSD) number of non-food articles ingested by each child was 2.85 (± 1.3) and was not affected by the age or sex. Geophagy (eating of earth, mud and pieces of earthen potter) was the commonest form of pica (75%), followed by eating of wall plaster (58%). coal (44%) and chalk or slate-pencil (38%). Most of the articles eaten are crunchy. The choice of material eaten is probably related to the low socio-economic status and poor living conditions of these children. Statistically significant association was seen between eating of calcium containing articles and clinical evidence of rickets (p< 0 01) but findings in relation to other nutritional deficiencies particularly iron deficiency do not support the view that pica is a need based behaviour.