PURPOSE: To explore the use (prevalence and related factors) of Chinese herbal medicines used by pregnant women. METHODS: We used multistage stratified systematic sampling to recruit 2048 postpartum women from the Taiwan national birth register between November and December 2003. Subjects underwent a home interview 6 months after their deliveries. A structured questionnaire was successfully applied to 87% of the sampled population. RESULTS: At least one Chinese herbal medicine was used during pregnancy by 24.1% of the interviewed subjects. Pregnant women with threatened abortion appeared to use more Chinese herbal medicines than other pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicines are frequently used by pregnant women in Taiwan and are very frequently used by those with a threatened abortion.
PURPOSE: To explore the use (prevalence and related factors) of Chinese herbal medicines used by pregnant women. METHODS: We used multistage stratified systematic sampling to recruit 2048 postpartum women from the Taiwan national birth register between November and December 2003. Subjects underwent a home interview 6 months after their deliveries. A structured questionnaire was successfully applied to 87% of the sampled population. RESULTS: At least one Chinese herbal medicine was used during pregnancy by 24.1% of the interviewed subjects. Pregnant women with threatened abortion appeared to use more Chinese herbal medicines than other pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicines are frequently used by pregnant women in Taiwan and are very frequently used by those with a threatened abortion.
Authors: Francesco Lapi; Alfredo Vannacci; Martina Moschini; Fabrizio Cipollini; Maria Morsuillo; Eugenia Gallo; Grazia Banchelli; Enrica Cecchi; Marina Di Pirro; Maria Grazia Giovannini; Maria Teresa Cariglia; Luigi Gori; Fabio Firenzuoli; Alessandro Mugelli Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2008-05-07 Impact factor: 2.629