Traditional and complementary medicine attitudes and practices of pregnant women for abnormal vaginal discharge

Abstract

Background During pregnancy, vaginal flora pH changes and vaginal discharge may increase. Pregnant women may resort to traditional methods for vaginal discharge, but some traditional practices may cause health problems. This study aimed to examine the attitudes of pregnant women in Turkey towards traditional and complementary medicine attitude and the traditional practices they use for abnormal vaginal discharge. Methods This descriptive study was conducted with 306 pregnant women using an online survey via social media platforms. The Personal Identification Form and the Complementary, Alternative and Conventional Medicine Attitudes Scale were used as data collection tools. Results 60.5% of participants had not received genital hygiene education. 15% of participants used traditional and complementary medicine methods for vaginal discharge, and 57.1% of those who used these methods used niaouli oil. The mean score obtained from the Complementary, Alternative and Conventional Medicine Attitudes Scale was 106.32 +/- 21.76. The attitude scores of non-working participants were significantly higher than those of working participants (p = 0.018). Participants who had fewer than four prenatal visits and those who did not receive genital hygiene education had higher total scale scores (p = 0.001 and p = 0.026). Additionally, visiting a doctor when experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge was found to negatively affect the total scale score (p = 0.010). Conclusion Pregnant women's attitudes toward traditional and complementary medicine practices were generally moderate, while the rates of using traditional and complementary medicine methods for vaginal discharge and receiving genital hygiene education were low. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare professionals inquire about pregnant women's use of CAM methods during prenatal checkups, provide genital hygiene education, and incorporate CAM methods into prenatal education programs based on evidence-based information.