Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 155
To determine what complementary therapies (CT) women are using in pregnancy and the role their healthcare provider plays in their decision to use CT.
A questionnaire, developed from themes derived from in-depth interviews with pregnant women, was distributed to pregnant women through all midwives, family physicians and obstetricians in the province of Alberta willing to participate in the study (242 practitioners). The questionnaires were then distributed by the healthcare provider’s office to their pregnant patients. Surveys were analysed using descriptive statistics, summaries and χ2 where appropriate.
Approximately 58% of the women used CT before becoming pregnant. Of these, 3% stopped using CT once they became pregnant. Of the 37% of women that were not using CT prior to pregnancy, 14% began using CT while pregnant. The most commonly used therapies were vitamins and minerals (63%), followed by massage (31%), chiropractic (21%), prayer (19%), yoga (16%), red raspberry leaf tea (13%), relaxation (11%), peppermint tea (8%), aromatherapy (8%), ginger (7%), and garlic (7%). A number of other therapies were used but by a smaller proportion of the population. Eighty-five per cent of the women discussed their use of CT in pregnancy with their healthcare provider, although those women attending a family physician were less likely to do so than those attending a midwife or obstetrician.
Pregnant women in Alberta are using CT in pregnancy but are being conservative in their choice of therapies. Many of those that use CT discuss this with their healthcare provider.
