UCRH and Daffodil Centre researcher Larisa Barnes is the first author of a newly published journal article outlining results of a national survey of pregnant or breastfeeding women. A co-author on the article was former UCRH Director, Professor Lesley Barclay.
The survey of 810 women revealed that nearly all of them use dietary supplements, and over half use herbal medicines and that pregnant and breastfeeding women in Australia are turning to health professionals for advice on using complementary medicine products (CMPs) like dietary supplements and herbal medicines.
The survey found that general practitioners are the most trusted source of information, especially among pregnant women. Breastfeeding women also place high trust in naturopaths, herbalists, pharmacists, and lactation consultants. Recommendations from health professionals significantly influence their decisions to use CMPs, while advice from online or print media is less impactful.
The study highlights the importance of health literacy and the need for maternity care clinicians to consider the various sources of information that women access. By understanding these preferences, clinicians can better support women in making informed decisions about CMP use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
