Blackmores Institute

With little known about women’s information sources or how they choose to take complementary medicine products (CMPs) for perceived indications in pregnancy and lactation. This systematic review included 56 papers – (n= 37,539) from researchers at The University of Sydney found that maternal health literacy plays an important role.
 
 “Maternal health literacy plays an important role in women’s decisions regarding health care during pregnancy and lactation and our review identified from published literature, that herbal medicines were the most commonly reported CMP used by pregnant and/or breastfeeding women, followed by micronutrient supplements,” the authors reported.
 
 In addition, the authors found that information sources, such as healthcare professionals, as well as family, peers and community resources, media, cultural and/or religious resources were used by women to inform decision-making when it comes to using a CMP in pregnancy or lactation.
 
 The review found that women are accessing an average of 6.3 information sources before deciding to use a complementary medicine product. The most common information source accessed was healthcare professionals (including doctors, Ob/Gyn, midwife/nurse, pharmacist, and naturopath, followed by interpersonal non-HCP relationships.
 
 “The concept of maternal health literacy recognises that women make health care decisions with the aim of promoting and maintaining their own and their children’s health. The use of CMPs as part of self-care is also recognised as a component of CMP use, and self-prescription of CMPs has been noted in pregnant and breastfeeding populations all over the world.”
 
 According to the review, self-prescription of CMPs is defined as the purchase and use of CMPs without advice from a health care professional (HCP), specifically to diagnose, treat or prevent disease. The authors noted that self-prescription was usually associated with minor illnesses or symptoms and that self-medication can reduce morbidity and mortality in communities in low-income or lower-middle-income economies where access to biomedical health care is difficult, but is also common in high-income economies.
 
 “Self- prescribed CMPs are usually over-the-counter purchases from herbalist shops or health food stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets in high-income economies and also from patent medicine stores, drug hawkers, local herb sellers in markets, and roadside hawkers in poorer communities.”
 
 “This review proposes that the information sources a woman accesses with regards to her CMP use in pregnancy and lactation are another element to add to the health literacy model. A woman gathers and evaluates information from her HCPs as well as from family and friends, community non-HCP resources, the media and religious and cultural resources
 
 “Biomedical, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and traditional HCPs were major information sources in the health literacy environment and influence pregnant and breastfeeding women’s decision-making processes. Women accessed these practitioners as part of antenatal or postnatal care, support with breastfeeding, or baby health checks. It is not surprising that biomedical HCPs were identified as information sources for iron, folic acid, vitamin D, Omega-3 essential fatty acids, prenatal vitamins, and iodine supplements, as these have evidence-based recommendations to support their use in pregnancy,” the authors said.
 
 While the authors found it difficult to make definitive comments on the type or quality of information on CMPs biomedical, traditional or CAM HCPs recommended or prescribed, they concluded that traditional use, cultural benefits and perceived effectiveness warrant more investigation in addition to the frequent concurrent use of CMPs with biomedical care.
 
 Lead author, Larisa Barnes’ PhD scholarship received funding from Blackmores Institute. Blackmores had no in input into the design, execution or dissemination of her research. 
 
 Source:
 Women Birth. 2019. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.11.015">10.1016/j.wombi.2018.11.015</a>

New Australian research may offer health care professionals greater understanding of women’s decision making when it comes to using complementary medicine therapies.

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