The Use of Complementary Medicine During Childbearing Years: A Multi-Country Study of Women From the Middle East اس نه الطب التكميلي خلال سنوات الإنجاب: دراسة متعددة البلدان لنساء من الشرق...

Overview

Journal Glob Qual Nurs Res

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Nursing

Date 2022 Jan 17

PMID 35036476

Authors

Diana Arabiat

Lisa Whitehead

Samia Gaballah

Nazi Nejat

Ebtehal Galal

Eman Abu Sabah

Nazek Smadi

Inas Saadeh

Randa Khlaif

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The prevalence of self-prescribed complementary medicine (CM) use is an area of concern across the Middle East. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study to describe women's use of CM during their childbearing years in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. The study conducted using face to face audio-recorded interviews with 70 participants. Our findings showed that women used several herbal plants to ease pain and discomfort during menstruation and/or during pregnancy and in postpartum care. Acupuncture, meditation, and massage were less likely to be used by women. The impact of CM was often described in relation to perceived usefulness and safety of herbs. Cultural beliefs and roles of women contributed to the use of herbs among women. Given the high use of herbal medicine, there is a need for discussion about the potential of adverse effects of some plants or their metabolites following self-medication during the childbearing years.

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