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The prevalence of geophagic practices and causative reasons for geophagia in Sekhukhune area, Limpopo Province, South Africa

The deliberate consumption of soil (geophagia) is reported to be an old practice and not restricted to any particular age, gender or race group. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of geophagic practices and causative reasons for geophagia in the Sekhukhune area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study also discovered different geophagia sites where soil is obtained within the villages. Data was obtained through a cross-sectional study using 200 participants (males and females), between the ages of 18 and 65 years living in two Sekhukhune villages. Geophagia was reported by 172 (86%) consumers from the 200 participants, of which 143 (71.5%) in the study were mostly single and 164 (82%) only had secondary level of schooling. A total of 129 (74.9%) consumers reported consuming the soil for more than five years and 122 (71%) consumed more than once a day. The traditional name for edible soil is mobu in the villages. It was also reported that craving from 81 (47%) consumers was the main reason for the practice and 166 (96.4%) preferred to collect their soils in the wild. Of the 172 consumers, 112 (65.4%) did not know that the soil they were consuming could be harmful, however 107 (62%) reported that constipation might be caused by the practice. It became clear that the practice is entrenched in the cultural behaviour of the people of this area.