Fish consumption during menarche, menstruation, pregnancy and postpartum in Sikuani women from Meta, Colombia

BACKGROUND: Societies have selected their food for health, cultural, religious, political, economical, and environmental reasons. Most of the food included in Sikuani traditional diet still comes from wild natural resources and involves numerous species of fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants. During certain periods of the Sikuani women’s reproductive cycle, fish intake is avoided. The objective of this research is to study the conceptions underlying fish consumption regulations among Sikuani women at the Wacoyo Reservation, in Meta, Colombia. METHODS: We conducted a field study through interviews and participant observation with Sikuani Indigenous from the Wacoyo Reservation (Colombia). We inquired about the conceptions of fish consumption regulation by Sikuani women during the stages of the reproductive cycle. PCA (principal component analysis) was used to identify the most important characteristics of fish that are related to the avoidance of fish intake by Sikuani women during pregnancy. This study combines qualitative and quantitative analysis. RESULTS: It was found that during menarche and postpartum fish consumption is avoided by Sikuani women only before the ritual known as the prayer of the fish is performed. The menstruation does not imply significant regulations for fish intake, while during pregnancy there are multiple and specific avoidances for the consumption of fish. According to our results, there are some features of fish associated with their regulation on the diet of pregnant Sikuani women. The consumption of some fish is avoided during pregnancy because it is related to the appearance of disease caused by ainawi, protector spirits of aquatic animals. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional diet of Sikuani women includes numerous fish species and an important proportion of them are avoided during menarche, menstruation, gestation, and postpartum. According to our results, there are some features of fish associated with their regulation on the diet of pregnant Sikuani women. The main reasons underlying the avoidance of fish consumption by Sikuani women are the prevention of human disease as well as the strengthening of communities and ecosystems resilience.