Chinese herbal medicines used in pregnancy: a population-based survey in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese herbal medicines are frequently used by pregnant women in Taiwan and are very frequently used by those with a threatened abortion.
Chuang
Chao-Hua
CH
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Wu-Shiun
WS
Guo
Yueliang Leon
YL
Tsai
Yih-Jian
YJ
Chang
Pei-Jen
PJ
Lin
Shio-Jean
SJ
Chen
Pau-Chung
PC
D000033:Abortion, Threatened / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal