ABSTRACT
In the UN Decade for Women, attention was directed to the issues of women and development. The laborious work that women are required to perform has a detrimental effect upon their health, and in certain circumstances, upon the viability of their babies. Rural Indian women are restricted by and governed by a number of taboos which are generally imposed as a control mechanism. The taboos, prejudices and beliefs and attitudes centring on food are cultural practices that act as blocks preventing full utilisation of the available food during postpartum period when it is most essential. The literature shows that in many traditional societies of the world, death, birth and other personal and family events entail danger and lead to the seclusion of affected persons, to prohibitions against contact and avoidance of certain foods or actions. In India persons affected in this way are impure for a period of time.
