title: Chinese herbal medicines used in pregnancy: a population-based survey in Taiwan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Wu-Shiun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Yueliang Leon
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yih-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Pei-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shio-Jean
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pau-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal