Health service utilisation by pregnant women over a seven-year period.
OBJECTIVE
to examine the use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy using data from a longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
the research was conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health which was designed to investigate multiple factors affecting the health and well-being of women over a 20-year period.


METHODS
the younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health who had completed four surveys in 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2006.


RESULTS
the data reveal an increase both in consumption of complementary and alternative medicine and in consultations with general practitioners/specialists during pregnancy. Women utilised complementary and alternative medicine as a supplement for conventional maternity care.


CONCLUSIONS
given the potential risks of some complementary and alternative medicine for pregnant women and their unborn child, it is essential that maternity care providers are adequately informed about these treatments and that further research investigates the details of such concurrent use.
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Room 342, David Maddison Building, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. david.sibbritt@newcastle.edu.au
David
D
Sibbritt
Jon
J
Adams
Chi-Wai
CW
Lui
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult