A new study by scientists from the United States has indicated that pregnant Muslim women who fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan are more likely to give birth to smaller babies who get learning disabilities in their adulthood.
According to the study, the effects are realized more when pregnant women fast in their early years of pregnancy.
Uganda Mufti, Ramathan Mubajje
The study, which used census data from the US, Iraq and Uganda, also discovered long-term effects on the child’s health and future economic success.
The Authors of the research, Douglas Almond, of Columbia University, and Bhashkar Mazumder, of the Federal Research Bank of Chicago adds that adult disability is at 20 percent higher with mental disability showing larger effects.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a time when Muslims across the world fast from dawn until sunset. Fasting is central to the Muslim culture and many women fast for fear of loss of connection with their community.