title: Use of herbal product among pregnant women in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the herbal product use of pregnants as there is not adequate information relating to the rate of herbal product use during pregnancy in Turkey and what is thought about effects and side effects thereof.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a descriptive study consisted of 366 pregnants admitted to hospital for childbirth in gynaecology and obstetrics clinics of a public hospital or a university hospital. Data were collected with individual information form and question form of herbal product use in pregnancy. We conducted number, percentage, chi-square analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was determined that 47.3% of the women had used at least one herbal product during pregnancy; the relationship between education level, working status, family structure, and status of herbal product use is statistically significant (p<0.05). Linden, peppermint-lemon, ginger are the first three herbs used due to common cold-influenza frequently in pregnancy during 1st and 2nd trimesters. More than half of the pregnants stated that they had started herbal product use without any suggestions from anyone, and profoundly low healthcare professional suggestion was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study has showed that almost half of women use at least one herbal product during pregnancy. So few healthcare professionals give information to pregnants thereabout. Thus, providing information in general health education to pregnant women about benefits and damages of herbal product use, planning researchers on effectiveness of herbal products, assessment of healthcare professionals relating to the matter and provision of available guidelines and in-service education relating to herbal products that can be used during pregnancy may be suggested.
authors.affiliation: Gaziosmanpaşa University, Faculty of Health Science, Nursing Department, 60250 Tokat, Turkey. Electronic address: aygul.kissal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aygül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kıssal
authors.affiliation: Gaziosmanpaşa University, Faculty of Health Science, Nursing Department, 60250 Tokat, Turkey. Electronic address: umrancevik@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ümran
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Çevik Güner
authors.affiliation: Gaziosmanpaşa University, Faculty of Health Science, Midwifery Department, 60250 Tokat, Turkey. Electronic address: dondubatkin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Döndü
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Batkın Ertürk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Herbal medicine; Midwifery; Nurses; Pregnancy