Use of complementary and alternative medicine in departments of obstetrics in croatia and a comparison to Germany.
BACKGROUND
This nationwide study assessed the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in departments of obstetrics in Croatia and compared it with an identical assessment carried out in Germany.


METHODS
All Croatian obstetrics departments were sent a questionnaire already tested in Germany which assessed the use of CAM methods: whether any were used during childbirth and if so how frequently, and the reasons behind their application.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were returned by 100% (36/36) of departments identified. The only used CAM therapy was acupuncture, which was available in 5.6% (2/36) of the departments. All other methods (homeopathy, aromatherapy, massage etc.) were not used at all. Furthermore, acupuncture was only administered by physicians. These findings were found to strongly contrast with the findings from Germany.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the main CAM methods only acupuncture is used to a small extent in the field of obstetrics in Croatia. Thus, the impression from the literature that shows a considerable use of CAM in this area definitely does not apply for all parts of the world. Future studies should seek to identify the reasons behind the intensive use of CAM in Germany and its virtual non-use in Croatia. This also means that analyses of CAM use are required with respect to perinatal outcome, the results of which could finally help decide about the reasonability of CAM.
Hrgovic
Igor
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
Hrgovic
Zlatko
Z
Habek
Dubravko
D
Oreskovic
Slavko
S
Hofmann
Johannes
J
Münstedt
Karsten
K
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017523:Croatia; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014600:Utilization Review