References

  1. Ellis BJ, Fiqueredo AJ, Brumbach BH, Schlomer GL. Fundamental dimensions of environmental risk: the impact of harsh versus unpredictable environments on the evolution of development of life history strategies. Human Nature. 2009; 20(2): 204-268. PubMed | Google Scholar

  2. Danford DE, Huber AM. Pica among mentally retarded adults. American Journal of Mental Deficiency. 1982; 87(2): 141-6. PubMed | Google Scholar

  3. Parry-Jones B, Parry-Jones, WL. Pica: symptom or eating disorder? A historical assessment. The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science. 1992; 160(3): 341354. PubMed | Google Scholar

  4. Hakim-Larson J, Voelker S, Thomas C, Reinstein, L. Feeding and eating disorders. In C. A. Essau & F. Petermann (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology: Epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment (pp. 351-410). Amsterdam: Harwood Academic. Developmental Psychopathology: Epidemiology, Diagnostics, and Treatment. 1997; 351-410.

  5. Njiru H, Elichalal U, Paltiel O. Geophagy during pregnancy in Africa: a literature review. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. July 2011; 66(7): 452-459. Google Scholar

  6. Woywodt A, Kiss A. Geophagia: the history of earth-eating. J R Soc Med. 2002; 95(3): 143-146. PubMed | Google Scholar

  7. Sarpong G. Eating ayilo can be harmful. 2015. Graphic Online. Accessed November 17.

  8. Steiner-Asiedu M, Harrison OA, Vuvor F, Tano- Debrah K. Quality evaluation of processed clay samples. Pan African Medical Journal. 2016; 24: 118. PubMed | Google Scholar

  9. Maldonado MU, Dias N, Varvakis G. Managing Innovation in Small High-technology Firms: a case study in Brazil. J Technol Manag Innov. 2009; 4(2): 83-93. Google Scholar

  10. African chalk and clay. Authentic. Fresh. Nothing Added to it. Just Pure Clay. Fast shipping turnaround. Accessed 24th May 2018.

  11. Anfoega Akukome Map-Satellite Images of Anfoega Akukome. Volta Region, Ghana. Accessed 1st May 2018.

  12. Ho Municipality and other Districts in the Volta-Region. Accessed 24 Apr, 2018.

  13. Official method of Analysis. 18th Edition, Association of Officiating Analytical Chemists, Washington DC, Method 935.14 and 992.24. 2005.

  14. Tano-Debrah K, Bruce-Baiden G. Microbiological characterization of dry white clay, a pica element in Ghana. Nature Science Report and Opinion. 2010; 2(6): 77-81. Google Scholar


  15. Kortei NK, Odamtten GT, Obodai M, Wiafe-Kwagyan M. Mycofloral profile and radiation sensitivity (D10 values) of solar dried and gamma irradiated Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.Ex.Fr) Kummer fruit bodies in two different packaging materials. Food Science and Nutrition. 2017; 1-9. Google Scholar

  16. Samson RA, Hoekstra ES, Frisvad JC (Eds). Introduction to food and airborne fungi. 7th ed. Centraal Bureau Voor Schimmel cultures. 2004. Google Scholar

  17. Manser MM, Saez ACS, Chiodini PL. Faecal parasitology: concentration methodology needs to be better standardized. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016; 10(4): e0004579. PubMed | Google Scholar

  18. Hommey J. Perception and practice of pica among pregnant women in the La- Nkwantanang-Madina municipality. MPhil. Thesis, School of Public Health, University of Ghana. 2016. Google Scholar

  19. Aslan PA, Aydin N, Yazici E, Aksoy AN, Kirkan TS, Daloglu GA. Prevalence of depressive disorders and related factors in women in the first trimester of their pregnancies in Erzurum, Turkey. Int. J Soc Psychiatry. 2014; 60(8): 809-17. PubMed | Google Scholar

  20. Huebl L, Leick S, Guettl, Akello G, Kutalek R. Geophagy in Northern Uganda: Perspectives from consumers and clinicians. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2016; 95(6): 1440-1449. PubMed | Google Scholar

  21. Ekwenchi O, Duru HC, Ononiwu RC, Ezeigbo CJ. A study of awareness and practice among childbearing population in Anambra State, Nigeria. Communication Panorama African Global perspective. 2015; 1(1): 24-27. Google Scholar

  22. Koryo-Dabrah A, Nti CA, Adanu R. Dietary Practices and Nutrient Intakes of Pregnant Women in Accra , Ghana. Current Research Journal Biological Sciences. 2012; 4(4): 358-365. Google Scholar

  23. Mensah FO, Twumasi P, Amenawonyo XK, Larbie C, Jnr AKB. Pica practice among pregnant women in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. International Health. 2010; 2(4): 282-286. PubMed | Google Scholar

  24. Tayie FAK, Lartey A. Pica practice among pregnant Ghanaians: Relationship with infant birth-weight and maternal haemoglobin level. Ghana Medical Journal. 1999; 33: 67-76.

  25. Boadu I, Mensah FO, Dadson JK. Prevalence of Pica Behaviour among Pregnant women in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso Bekwai district in the Western Region of Ghana. International Journal of Novel Research in Life Sciences. 2015; 2(5): 36-40. Google Scholar

  26. Walker ARP, Walker BF, Sokaria FI, Canaan RJ. Pica. J Roy Health. 1997; 117: 280-284.

  27. Sule S, Madugu HN. Pica in pregnant women in Zaria, Nigeria. Niger J Med. 2001; 10(1): 25-27. PubMed | Google Scholar

  28. Ogbonnaya NP, Blassio O. Pica practices of pregnant women in Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of College Medicine. 2009; 14(1): 24-32.

  29. Hunter JM. Macroterme geophagy and pregnancy clays in Southern Africa. J Cultural Geography. 1993; 14: 69-92. Google Scholar

  30. Simpson E, Mull JD, Longley E, East J. Pica during pregnancy in low-income women born in Mexico. The Western Journal of Medicine. 2000; 173(1): 20-25. PubMed | Google Scholar

  31. Moore D, Sears D. Pica, iron deficiency, and the medical history. Am J Med. 1994; 97(4): 390-393. PubMed | Google Scholar

  32. Knox B, Kremer J, Pearce J. A survey of dietary urges and consumption during pregnancy in Belfast working class women. Soc Sci Health. 1995; 1: 125-44. Google Scholar

  33. Lin J, Temple L, Trujillo C, Mejia- Rodriquez F, Rosas LG, Fernald L, Young SL. Pica during pregnancy among Mexican- born women: a formative study. Matern Child Nutr. 2015; 11(4): 550-558. PubMed | Google Scholar

  34. Advani S, Kochhar G, Chachra S, Dhawan P. Eating everything except food (PICA): a rare case report and review. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry. 2014; 4(1): 1-4. PubMed | Google Scholar

  35. Young SL, Khalfan SS, Farag TH, Kavle JA, Ali SM, Hajji H et al. Association of pica with anaemia and gastrointestinal distress among pregnant women in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2010; 83(1): 144-151. PubMed | Google Scholar

  36. WHO. Evaluation Of Certain Food Additives and Contaminants. Seventy-third Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee On Food Additives (JECFA), Geneva. 2011; 1-535. Google Scholar

  37. Tayie FA, Koduah G, Mork SP. Geophagia clay soil as a source of mineral nutrients and toxicants. The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development]. 2013; 13(1): 1-14. Google Scholar

  38. Nkansah MA, Korankye M, Darko G, Dodd M. Heavy Metal content and potential health risk of geophagic white clay from the Kumasi Metropolis In Ghana. Toxicology Reports. 2016; 3: 644-651. PubMed | Google Scholar

  39. Doe ED, Awua A, Achoribo SEA, Adu-Bobi NAK, Donko S, Baidoo I et al. Essential and toxic element present in clay obtained from Ghanaian Market. Applied Biology. 2012; 47: 8633-8636. Google Scholar

  40. Mahurpawar M. Effects of heavy metals on human health. Social issues and environmental problems. Int J Res. 2015; 3(9): 23-24. Google Scholar

  41. Nyanza EC, Joseph M, Premji SS, Thomas DSK, Mannion C. Geophagy practices and the content of chemical elements in the soil eaten by pregnant women in artisanal and small scale gold mining communities in Tanzania. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2014; 14: 1-10. PubMed | Google Scholar

  42. Yusuf A, Mofio M, Ahmed B, Ado-Baba. Proximate and mineral composition of Tamarindus indica Lin 1753 Seeds. Science World Journal. 2007; 2: 1-4. Google Scholar

  43. Umudi EQ. Mineral Composition of Edible Clays from the Ozanagogo, Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Processes. 2017; 3(2): 20-24. Google Scholar

  44. Workowski KA, Flaherty JP. Systemic Bacillus species infection mimicking Listeriosis of pregnancy. Clinical infectious diseases: an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 1992; 14(3): 694-696. PubMed | Google Scholar

  45. Sliman R, Rehm S, Shales DM. Serious infections caused by Bacillus species. Medicine. 1987; 66(3): 218-223. PubMed | Google Scholar

  46. Medical research for children. Secrets of a 'superbug': what makes Pseudomonas bacteria so deadly? Accessed 24 Apr, 2018.

  47. Ogomaka I. Microorganisms associated with clay ( NZU ) consumption (Geophagy ) in some parts of Imo State , Nigeria. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 2015; 4(1): 552-557. Google Scholar

  48. Torsvik V, Salte K, Sorheim R, Goksoyr J. Comparison of phenotypic diversity and DNA heterogenicity in population of soil bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiology. 1990; 56(3): 776-781. PubMed | Google Scholar

  49. Kent A, Triplett EW. Microbial communities and their interactions in soil and rhizosphere ecosystems. Annu Rev Microbiol. 2002; 56: 211-236. PubMed | Google Scholar

  50. Kamei K, and Watanabe A. Aspergillus mycotoxins and their effect on the host. Medical Mycology. 2005; 43(s1): 95-99. PubMed | Google Scholar

  51. Ellis D. Clinical Mycology. The Human Opportunistic Mycoses, Pfizer Inc. (Pub.), New York, 1994; 166.

  52. Badiee P, Hashemizadeh Z. Opportunistic invasive fungal infections: diagnosis & clinical management. Indian J Med Res. 2014; 139(2): 195-204. PubMed | Google Scholar

  53. Laufer M. Pediatric Toxocariasis. Accessed on July 9, 2010.