title: Complementary and alternative medicine use during early pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and explore predictors of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use during early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey of pregnant women (500) attending for mid trimester scan at the maternity services in Grampian, North-East Scotland. Outcome measures included; CAM used; vitamins and minerals used; independent predictors of use; views and experiences. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 66%. Two thirds of respondents (63%) reported using CAM, excluding vitamins and minerals, during early pregnancy. Respondents reported using a total of 28 different CAM modalities, of which oral herbal products were the most common (37% of respondents, 25 different products). The independent predictors of CAM use identified were: use by family and friends (OR 4.1, 95% CI 2.3-7.3, p<0.001); ethnicity (non-white British) (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.8-6.8, p<0.001); and use prior to pregnancy (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.8, p=0.014). In comparison to prescribed medicines, most users were uncertain if CAM were safer (63%), more effective (66%), free from possible adverse effects (46%) or drug-CAM interactions (50%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the majority of respondents being uncertain about their safety and effectiveness, CAM modalities and CAM products are widely used during the early stages of pregnancy in this study population. The role of family and friends rather than health professionals in the decision to use CAM may be of concern and requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, The University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK.
authors.forename: Abdul Rouf
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pallivalappila
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen AB10 7QJ, UK.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Royal Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen AB25 2ZL, UK.
authors.forename: Ashalatha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Binita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pande
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics, Medical Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Rajvir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, The University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK. Electronic address: j.mclay@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mclay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: Antenatal; Complementary therapies; Herbal medicine; Pregnancy; Views and experiences