title: Prevalence and determinants of complementary and alternative medicine use during pregnancy: results from a nationally representative sample of Australian pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnant women have been identified as high users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, no research to date has provided a detailed analysis of the prevalence and determinants of CAM consumption amongst pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence and determinants of CAM use by pregnant women, utilising a national representative sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample was obtained via the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. This paper is based on a sub-study of 1,835 pregnant women, administered in 2010. The women answered questions about CAM use, demographics, pregnancy-related health concerns and health service utilisation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complementary and alternative medicine use was found to be high with 48.1% (n = 623) of pregnant women consulting a CAM practitioner and 52.0% (n = 842) of women using CAM products (excluding vitamins and minerals) during pregnancy. CAM practitioner visits were more likely for selected pregnancy-related health concerns, namely back pain or back ache, neck pain and labour preparation. Women were less likely to consult a CAM practitioner if they suffered with headaches/migraines. Employment was also found to be predictive of pregnant women's visits to a CAM practitioner. Significant health history and demographic predictors of CAM product use were tiredness and fatigue, embarking on preparation for labour and having a university education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most pregnant women are utilising CAM products and/or services as part of their maternity care and obstetricians, general practitioners and midwives need to enquire with women in their care about possible CAM use to help promote safe, effective coordinated maternity care.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jane.e.frawley@student.uts.edu.au
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frawley
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: complementary and alternative medicine; maternity care; pregnancy