Publication:

Maternal dietary practices and perception of newborn skin complexion: a community-based field study

Background Traditional beliefs continue to influence maternal dietary practices during pregnancy and may affect food choices despite access to antenatal health education. One such belief is that consuming saffron strands with milk during pregnancy contributes to a fairer complexion in the newborn baby. This report describes field observations regarding saffron consumption practices and associated beliefs among pregnant women in Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, India.

Methods This descriptive field observation report is based on routine maternal health surveillance activities conducted in Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, between January 2016 and December 2022. Observations were made during antenatal counselling sessions and community interactions with pregnant women registered under the National Health Programme.

Results Among approximately 50-65 pregnant women registered each month, 8-12 women (approximately 16%-18.5%) reported consuming saffron strands with milk during pregnancy. This practice was observed across different educational and socioeconomic backgrounds and was commonly described as a family tradition passed down through generations. Participants believed that saffron consumption during pregnancy would influence the complexion of their newborn baby.

Conclusions This report documents a traditional dietary belief observed among pregnant mothers during routine community health activities. Although saffron consumption with milk during pregnancy was believed to improve newborn complexion, available scientific evidence does not support this association. Newborn skin complexion is primarily determined by genetic factors rather than maternal dietary practices. These findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive health education and behaviour change communication during antenatal counselling to address misconceptions and promote informed pregnancy-related dietary practices.