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Use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy and delivery

  • Materno-fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during pregnancy and birth and the reasons behind it from the patient’s perspective.

Methods

In a prospective study, we assessed the use of CAM before and during pregnancy as well as during delivery in women by means of a self-report questionnaire.

Results

Some 205 patients completed the questionnaire at a response rate of 43.2% (205/475) and 104 women used CAM during pregnancy, especially homoeopathy, acupuncture, and phytotherapy. Stepwise regression analysis identified CAM use prior to pregnancy, greater income, and nationality as the most important predictors of CAM use.

Conclusions

In accordance with earlier studies from Germany, we determined the most important methods used in the field of obstetrics. Interestingly, these are not evidence-based and those methods which are evidence-based are not now used. Also, the predictors of CAM use in pregnancy were similar to those in oncology. Future studies should focus on the safety and efficacy of CAM in pregnancy.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all women who participated in this study.

Conflict of interest statement

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 32, 35385, Giessen, Germany

    Katrin Knoblauch, Igor Hrgovic & Karsten Münstedt

  2. Department of Gynaecology, Gynaecologic Endocrinology and Oncology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany

    Matthias Kalder

Authors
  1. Matthias Kalder
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  2. Katrin Knoblauch
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  3. Igor Hrgovic
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  4. Karsten Münstedt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karsten Münstedt.

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Kalder, M., Knoblauch, K., Hrgovic, I. et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy and delivery. Arch Gynecol Obstet 283, 475–482 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1388-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1388-2

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