BACKGROUND

Over the last decade, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used in maternity practice all over the world. Women from different cultural backgrounds prefer the use of specific CAM modalities.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to explore the use of CAM, the types of CAM practitioners consulted, and perceptions of the efficacy of CAM among a sample of Chinese postpartum women. The study's second objective was to investigate common patterns of CAM provided and the reasons for a CAM recommendation to childbearing women, from the perspective of obstetric staff.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey was undertaken at a university-affiliated general hospital and a maternity and child health hospital in Guangzhou, China. Patients were approached from both the postnatal wards and the postnatal outpatient departments, and healthcare professionals were obstetric staff, including doctors, midwives and nurses who work in the department of obstetrics.

RESULTS

A total of 306 patients and 225 obstetric staff completed the questionnaire. The mean age of these patients and obstetric staff was 29.28 (SD 4.31), and 31.01 (SD 6.97) years old, respectively. Questionnaire data revealed the prevalence of CAM use among patients was 42.8%. Common types of CAM used and provided by the studied hospitals include acupressure (43.5%), massage therapy (32.0%), reflexology (30.2%), acupuncture (23.5%), and herbal medicine (20.0%). Most Chinese women used CAM therapies during the postnatal period (30.9%). These women mainly used CAM for pain relief (22.2%) and relaxation (18.3%). The most common reasons for health professionals to recommend CAM to patients, were patient demand (81.3%) and CAM's proven efficacy (81.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

In order to communicate effectively about CAM, health professionals should undertake continuing professional development on updated perspectives of CAM use in obstetrics, and equip themselves with updated knowledge about the evidence-base for CAM, in order to provide efficient and qualified care to potential CAM users.