Survey on the use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy and labour

Objective

To survey the use of complementary and alternative medicine by pregnant women in the Exeter area by questionnaire distribution through health visitors (HVs).

Materials and methods

The questionnaire was devised by the Department of Complementary Medicine at Exeter University and ethical approval was gained from the North and East Devon Local Research Ethics Committee. The questionnaire was piloted in a Mother and Baby group in Exeter on 18 July 2001 (n = 13) and amended accordingly. A total of 240 questionnaires have been allocated to HV based at seven health centres in the immediate Exeter area and one health centre in Exmouth.

The HVs begin visiting new mothers approximately 10 days after the birth. The HVs will explain the purpose of the study, leaving the questionnaire and a prepaid envelope with the new mum to return to Department of Complementary Medicine within a month of the birth. The study time period is 4 months, 3 months of questionnaire distribution from 1 September–30 November, 2001, followed by one months’ extra collection time until the 31 December 2001.

After the 3-month distribution period, any remaining unused questionnaires will be returned to the department in order to calculate the response rate.

Results

Preliminary results will be presented at the symposium.