Rate of Herbal Medicines Use during Pregnancy and some related Factors in Women of Ahvaz, Iran: 2017

Today in developing countries, use of herbal medicines during pregnancy is increasing. However, consumption of some plants may cause side effects in mother and fetus or lead to drug interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate if using herbal medications during pregnancy and some of the related factors in Ahvaz, Iran.
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 219 mothers, who delivered and were hospitalized in Sina Hospital of Ahvaz in 2017. The questionnaires about background information and data regarding use of herbal medicines in pregnancy were completed for all the subjects on the first to second days post-delivery through interviews. All the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square test using SPSS version 16. For all the tests, P our findings revealed that 19.2% (n=42) of the subjects reported use of herbal medicines in their recent pregnancy. The highest frequency related to Thyme, Olive oil, and Peganum Harmala. The most common application indication was common cold and cough. The most frequent sources of information for individuals were family and friends and the least common was scientific books and journals. Moreover, 83.3% (n=35) of the participants did not inform their physician or midwife about using herbal medicines. There was a statistically significant relationship between the level of education and use of herbal medications (P=0.001).
According to the results, the rate of herbal medicines usage during pregnancy in women of Ahvaz is lower than many other studies in Iran. Most individuals apply non-scientific sources of information for using herbal medicines. Consequently, it seems necessary to increase the awareness of pregnant women concerning herbs, their use in pregnancy, and their side effects.