Consumption, prohibitions, health risks, and issues of catfish farming in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Prohibitions, totems and reasons for catfish consumption or not are little known in Côte d'Ivoire. This study analyzes the antecedents, problems, difficulties, prohibitions, taboos, totems, allergies and diseases among the indigenous Ivorian population that are associated with catfish consumption. A survey on the consumption of catfish was carried out from April to June 2022 with 557 active Ivorians. The difficulties related to the consumption of catfish are observed in all 14 districts, 33 regions, 30 ethnic groups. Catfish are worshipped, sacred and/or feared. A history of health problems of 1 to 30 days has been reported by some consumers. However, catfish are consumed by 63.2 % of the 557 people surveyed and at a frequency of more than 50 % in the majority of regions and ethnic groups. The totems and prohibitions on catfish are extended to all the regions, the level of catfish consumption varies between the people in the same region and between regions. The level of catfish consumption is in favor of is farming. A sanitary quality study of catfish will help to understand the allergies and diseases reported and to identify the conditions for eliminating risks.

Keywords : Fish, Côte d'Ivoire, Consumption, Diseases, Self-sufficiency