Use, Attitudes and Knowledge of Complementary and Alternative Drugs (CADs) among Pregnant Women: A Preliminary Survey in Tuscany

Abstract

To explore pregnant women's use, attitudes, knowledge and beliefs of complementary and alternative drugs (CADs) defined as products manufactured from herbs or with a natural origin. A preliminary survey was conducted among 172 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, consecutively recruited in two obstetrical settings; 15 women were randomly selected to compute a test-to-retest analysis. Response rate was 87.2%. Test-to-retest analysis showed a questionnaire's reproducibility exceeding a K-value of 0.7 for all items. Mean age was 32.4 ± 0.4 years; most women were nulliparae (62.7%). The majority of subjects (68%) declared to have used one or more CADs during their lifetime; 48% of pregnant women reported taking at least one CAD previously and during the current pregnancy. Women's habitual use of CADs meant they were at higher risk of taking CADs also during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio = 10.8; 95% confidence interval: 4.7–25.0). Moreover, 59.1% of the subjects were unable to correctly identify the type of CADs they were using. The majority of women resorted to gynecologists as the primary information source for CADs during pregnancy, while they mainly referred to herbalists when not pregnant. Habitual use of CADs seems to be a strong predictor for their ingestion also during pregnancy; in addition most subjects were unable to correctly identify the products they were taking. In the light of the scanty data concerning the safety of CADs during pregnancy, these preliminary results confirm the need to investigate thoroughly the situation of pregnant women and CADs consumption.

Women’s perception of safety and utilization of herbal remedies during pregnancy in a local government area in Nigeria

“…The perception of the women about the safety of herbal remedies in this study corroborated the findings of Hollyer, Boon, Georgousis, Smith & Elinarson [29] , and Lapi, Vannaco & Moschini [30] that women choose to use herbal remedies because they consider it safer than pharmaceutical drugs and also a naturally-derived product that is always safe. The belief of majority of the respondents on efficacy of herbal remedy in managing problems during pregnancy was similar to those reported by Fakeye, Adisa & Ismail [27] in a study where more than two-thirds of respondents who had used herbal remedies at one time or the other during pregnancy have confidence in the efficacy and safety of herbal remedies.…”

Are medicinal herbs safe? The opinion of plant vendors from Diadema (São Paulo, southeastern Brazil)

“…Most surveys agree that women use more alternative medicine than men, and pregnant women felt more attracted to herbs because they are promoted as harmless and free of adverse effects (Lapi et al, 2008). There have been very few formal studies of herbal consumption in pregnancy and even fewer looking at outcomes and side effects (Pinn & Pallett, 2002;Ruiz et al, 2008).…”

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Children in Italy - A Status Quo

“…An even higher CAM use could be shown in other surveys conducted on adults and including all CAM therapies: earliest surveys showed a prevalence of 30% in 1997 and 28% in 1999 [18,19]. Later on; surveys in 2003 showed a CAM use of 31% [20] and 36%; in 2004 47% [21] and in 2006 48% [22].…”