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Mississippi University for Women

2000

Pagophagia

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Pagophagia And Hemoglobin Levels In Pregnant Women, Contessa Ward Aug 2000

Pagophagia And Hemoglobin Levels In Pregnant Women, Contessa Ward

MSN Research Projects

Pica is a behavior characterized by the compulsive, persistent ingestion of non-food substances. It is a longstanding practice that has far-reaching implications for prevention and treatment. Pagophagia, or the excessive, compulsive consumption of ice, is a subcategory of pica. Although pica has been documented for centuries, there are limited studies regarding pagophagia and its effects in pregnant women. A comparative descriptive study was conducted to determine whether pagophagia is related to hemoglobin levels during pregnancy. Becker's Health Belief Model was utilized as the theoretical framework. Data were gathered by means of retrospective chart audit. The hypothesis was there would be …