An-Najah Staff

Abstract The use of herbal products among pregnant women is high Worldwide because they consider them safer than medication. They use herbs for nausea, vomiting, and other pregnancy related problems. Pregnant women like to use herbal products despite limited data on safety and efficacy. The objectives of this study are to measure the prevalence and predictors of herb use among a sample of Palestinian pregnant women and the possible influence of herbal consumption on pregnancy outcomes. This study was a questionnaire-based cross sectional descriptive study. It was conducted in the maternity ward of Rafedia Governmental Hospital between March and May 2012, a random sample of women who gave birth during the study period were met and asked to answer a face to face questionnaire. The results showed that the prevalence of using herbal products among pregnant women was 40.0%, the most common herbs were anise (61.7%), chamomile (53.3%), sage (55%), mixture of herbs (33.3%), and thyme (29.2%). The women preferred the herbs because they considered herbs safer than medications. There was no relation between herbal products use and any variable (age, educational level, living place, medical insurance, family income, work, chronic disease, parity and medication use). No negative relationship between herbal use and outcome on pregnant women and infants was found. This study found that the use of herbs during pregnancy is very common among Palestinian women. To provide the best care to pregnant women who use herb products, clinicians and pharmacist are recommended to stay up to date with herb use and their safety in pregnancy. The physicians are recommended to ask pregnant women about herb use because this practice is common among pregnant women, so doctors need to consider this to avoid any possible drug-herb interaction or negative outcomes on the mother or the fetus.