Traditional Medicine Use during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy and Lower Birthweight in Rural Cambodia

Abstract

Background: Prenatal use of traditional medicine (TM) is universal despite the inadequate evidence of its effectiveness of these therapeutic options. In Cambodia, most women prepare TM at the beginning of the 4th or 5th month of pregnancy with the belief that consuming TM improves the safety of delivery. Research has not adequately explored the use and effects of these maternal practices in Cambodia. Objective: To describe the prenatal use of TM and identify associated birth outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 117 postpartum women at a hospital in Cambodia was carried out employing a semi-structured questionnaire. Multivariate regression was used to identify the association between TM use during pregnancy and birth outcomes while adjusting for confounders. Results: 59% of the participants used TM during pregnancy aiming to ease the delivery, improve their own and their fetus’ well being, and follow the custom. In total, 30 medicinal plants and TM prepared by traditional healers (TH) were used by the participants. After adjusting for confounders, utilizing the unidentified TM prepared by TH in third trimester was significantly correlated with lower birthweight (p<0.01) compared to non TM users. Conclusion: TM use during pregnancy was common in the study setting and was significantly associated with lower birthweight when compared to non TM users. It was not statistically associated with adverse obstetrical events or gestational age at birth. Nonetheless, women are advised caution regarding use of TM during pregnancy particularly in the third trimester.