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Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 3/2011

01-03-2011 | Materno-fetal Medicine

Use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy and delivery

Authors: Matthias Kalder, Katrin Knoblauch, Igor Hrgovic, Karsten Münstedt

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 3/2011

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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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Metadata
Title
Use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy and delivery
Authors
Matthias Kalder
Katrin Knoblauch
Igor Hrgovic
Karsten Münstedt
Publication date
01-03-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1388-2

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