Traditional beliefs and practices of pregnancy and childbirth.

Traditional taboos and beliefs regarding pregnancy and childbirth in Botswana were collected by an essay competition in 1983. They are listed in tables by topic: nutrition position matrimonial communal obstetrical and general with consequences. Most of the food-related beliefs are taboos almost all of them meat although salt sweets bread corn and fats are also prohibited. Some obstetrical practices include attendance by an elderly female relative massage delivering on a bed of cow dung dressing the cord with cow dung or ash and use of a traditional drink. There are some beneficial practices listed such as the prohibition against the woman eating leftover food and marital infidelity by the husband during pregnancy and social isolation during the delivery and puerperium. The essays often suggested alternative practices that could be employed to cancel out the dire consequences of the original food eaten or posture taken. Few positive preventive measures were offered.