Geophagy is a common practice among pregnant women living in the Ho municipality in the Volta region, Ghana. Most of them consumed it for varied reasons. Although there are beneficial minerals, accumulated effects of these heavy metals can lead to various complications in pregnancy. The clay also contained pathogenic microorganisms. These pathogens have a whole range of deleterious effects on the human body ranging from gastrointestinal infections to cancer and so may not be safe to consume clay products from Anfoega, Ghana.
Authors: Nii Korley Kortei, Isaac Agyei Annor, George Aboagye, Nana Yaw Barimah Manaphraim, Alice Koryo-Dabrah, Emelia Awude, Edward Ken Essuman, Huseini Alidu, Clement Okraku Tettey, Benedict Awadzi
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2019.34.113.17394
Publish Year: 2019
