Does What I Eat Matter? Exploring Ghanaian Food Culture and Pregnancy – Bridging Appalachia and Africa

Written By: Elizabeth Acquah

Nutrition is a crucial determinant of maternal health across the world, including regions as diverse as Ghana and Appalachia. Pregnant individuals in both areas face similar challenges that stem from cultural beliefs, access to healthcare, and socioeconomic barriers. Perinatal nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy significantly impacts the health outcomes of mothers and their children. While the context may differ, the underlying issues resonate in both rural Appalachian communities and the villages of Ghana.

Maternal Health and Nutrition: A Common Challenge

In Ghana, maternal nutrition is influenced by food culture and socio-cultural traditions that define what is considered acceptable or restricted during pregnancy. Many traditional foods, such as “kontomire” (a leafy vegetable) and “agushie” (protein-rich melon seeds), are valued for their nutritional benefits, much like the locally grown produce in Appalachia. Both regions, however, experience disparities in access to healthcare and proper nutrition, especially for women in rural areas.

In Appalachia, pregnant women face increasing risks of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (SMM), in part due to geographic isolation, lack of access to quality healthcare, and poor pre-pregnancy health. Similar to Ghana, food taboos and dietary restrictions may influence the health of pregnant women, with limited access to proper nutrition compounding the issue. For instance, Appalachian women often face barriers such as high rates of obesity, smoking, and chronic conditions that mirror challenges faced by Ghanaian women, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is limited.

The Impact of Food Culture on Pregnancy: Ghana and Appalachia

In Ghana, certain foods are traditionally restricted during pregnancy due to socio-cultural beliefs, such as the avoidance of eggs (thought to lead to bad behavior in children) and snails (believed to cause drooling in babies). Similarly, in Appalachia, socio-cultural beliefs about nutrition during pregnancy are passed down through generations, influencing the diets of expectant mothers. Both regions value herbal remedies and culturally specific foods thought to ease labor or improve the health of the mother and child, but these practices sometimes lack scientific validation, posing risks when used without modern healthcare oversight.

In Appalachia, access to fresh, nutritious food can be a challenge due to economic and geographic isolation. The lack of healthcare resources and prenatal education compounds the issue, as many women may not receive the guidance they need for proper nutrition during pregnancy, leading to adverse health outcomes. This mirrors the situation in rural Ghana, where healthcare systems struggle to reach isolated communities, and traditional food practices often fill the gap.

Bridging Appalachia and Africa: Shared Health Challenges and Solutions

Despite the distance between Ghana and Appalachia, maternal health challenges in both regions are strikingly similar.  The people struggle with access to quality healthcare, economic barriers, and deeply rooted cultural practices surrounding nutrition and pregnancy. The experiences of pregnant women in rural Appalachia—where access to maternal healthcare is 65% lower than the national average—reflect the challenges faced by women in rural Ghana, where traditional birth attendants may be the only available support during pregnancy and childbirth.

A cross-cultural examination of maternal health in both regions highlights the importance of addressing these barriers through improved healthcare access, community education, and culturally sensitive interventions. In Ghana, promoting positive traditional food practices and ensuring that harmful dietary restrictions are discouraged can improve maternal outcomes, just as similar efforts to provide education and resources on prenatal nutrition can help in Appalachia.

Conclusion

The connection between maternal health in Ghana and Appalachia reveals how food culture, healthcare access, and socio-economic factors intersect to influence pregnancy outcomes. By bridging these two regions through shared knowledge and resources, we can work toward improving maternal health outcomes for women in both Africa and Appalachia. Collaborative efforts that promote positive food practices, discourage harmful taboos, and improve healthcare access are key to addressing the global challenge of maternal health.

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This article is part of BBG Ghana, an initiative of Black By God aimed at bridging the gap between Appalachia and Africa through shared stories and cultural exchange. We welcome your submissions and encourage you to contribute your voice to this effort.