Complementary and Alternative Medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic: a point to ponder
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Sharmistha Prasad
,
Apurva Agrawal
,
Babita Kanwat
und
Aditi Bhandari
Abstract
Objectives
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Pregnant women are vulnerable to adverse effects of medicines, especially during the first trimester. Though it is advised to avoid unnecessary intake of medicine during pregnancy, CAM use is widespread.
Methods
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on 120 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of a tertiary-care teaching hospital in Udaipur district of Southern Rajasthan, India. Women of age 18 years and above were surveyed between July 2022 to December 2023 by convenient sampling strategy and data were entered in a pretested and pre-validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test was applied to compare CAM use among different demographic categories and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
Out of 120 participants, 58 (48.33 %) were using CAM therapy. Out of 58 users, 44 (75.86 %) were using herbal & traditional medicines. Twenty (34.48 %) were using CAM for a healthy baby, 18 (31.03 %) for easy delivery and 17 (29.31 %) for boosting immunity. Forty (68.96 %) participants started CAM on the advice of a relative/friend. Fifty six (46.67 %) participants believe that CAM therapy cannot cause adverse effects on the in utero child, while 32 (26.67 %) believe that CAM and modern medicines don’t interact.
Conclusions
CAM use among pregnant women is substantial. There is a need to raise awareness among the healthcare professionals and pregnant women regarding possible adverse effects and drug-drug interactions with CAM use.
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Research ethics: The study was approved by the Ethics Committe (number: HREC/RNT/Stat/2021/482, Dated: 04/08/2021).
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Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
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Author contributions: SP data collection, AA planning design & manuscript writing BK planning, data collection,CS data collection & analysis, AS analysis, editing & review AB data collection. All authors were involved in the preparation of the manuscript. All authors accept responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.
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© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Review
- The utilization of artificial intelligence in enhancing 3D/4D ultrasound analysis of fetal facial profiles
- Commentary
- Respect for history: an important dimension of contemporary obstetrics and gynecology
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- Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation: a medically reasonable treatment option in the management of types II and III vasa previa
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- Preinduction cervical ripening in an outpatient setting: a prospective pilot study of a synthetic osmotic dilator compared with a double-balloon catheter
- Transperineal sonographic assessment of the angle of progression before the onset of labour: how well does it predict the mode of delivery in late-term pregnancy
- Prediction of intrapartum caesarean section in vaginal breech birth: development of models for nulliparous and multiparous women
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic: a point to ponder
- Molecular evidence that GBS early neonatal sepsis results from ascending infection: comparative hybrid genomics analyses show that microorganisms in the vaginal ecosystem, amniotic fluid, chorioamniotic membranes, and neonatal blood are the same
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Echocardiographic markers at diagnosis of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- New measurement indicator of ultrasound assessment of the fetal pancreas based on anatomical landmarks and its application to fetuses with gestational diabetes mellitus
- Original Articles – Neonates
- Mode of delivery and behavioral and neuropsychological outcomes in children at 10 years of age
- Assessment of the validity and reliability of edinburgh postpartum depression scale in Turkish men
- Letter to the Editor
- Frequency and persistence of wide pulse pressure in the newborn population
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Review
- The utilization of artificial intelligence in enhancing 3D/4D ultrasound analysis of fetal facial profiles
- Commentary
- Respect for history: an important dimension of contemporary obstetrics and gynecology
- Opinion Papers
- Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation: a medically reasonable treatment option in the management of types II and III vasa previa
- Efficacy and safety of 2-drug regime dolutegravir/lamivudine in pregnancy and breastfeeding – clinical implications and perspectives
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- The potential impact of universal screening for vasa previa in the prevention of stillbirths
- Preinduction cervical ripening in an outpatient setting: a prospective pilot study of a synthetic osmotic dilator compared with a double-balloon catheter
- Transperineal sonographic assessment of the angle of progression before the onset of labour: how well does it predict the mode of delivery in late-term pregnancy
- Prediction of intrapartum caesarean section in vaginal breech birth: development of models for nulliparous and multiparous women
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic: a point to ponder
- Molecular evidence that GBS early neonatal sepsis results from ascending infection: comparative hybrid genomics analyses show that microorganisms in the vaginal ecosystem, amniotic fluid, chorioamniotic membranes, and neonatal blood are the same
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Echocardiographic markers at diagnosis of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- New measurement indicator of ultrasound assessment of the fetal pancreas based on anatomical landmarks and its application to fetuses with gestational diabetes mellitus
- Original Articles – Neonates
- Mode of delivery and behavioral and neuropsychological outcomes in children at 10 years of age
- Assessment of the validity and reliability of edinburgh postpartum depression scale in Turkish men
- Letter to the Editor
- Frequency and persistence of wide pulse pressure in the newborn population
