Table 5 Sources of recommendation, supply and information
From: The use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding: a population-based survey in Western Australia
Survey questions | n (% of users/respondents)* |
|---|---|
Who has recommended the use of herbal medicines? (n = 182 number of users) |  |
Family members | 112 (61.5) |
Naturopaths, herbal or health food stores | 86 (47.3) |
Friends | 57 (31.3) |
Self (including self-reading of magazine, internet) | 56 (30.8) |
Health professionals (including clinic/child health nurses, midwives, lactation consultants) | 26 (14.3) |
Pharmacists and pharmacy staff | 24 (13.2) |
Prescribers and specialists (including doctors/general practitioners, gynaecologists, obstetricians) | 4 (2.2) |
Sources of supply: Where have they obtained or purchased their herbal medicines? (n = 182 number of users) |  |
Community pharmacies | 105 (57.7) |
Herbal or health food stores | 88 (48.4) |
Supermarkets | 73 (40.1) |
Naturopathic clinics | 27 (14.8) |
Family or friends | 26 (14.3) |
Internet | 4 (2.2) |
Sources of information: Where to seek information concerning use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding? (N = 303) |  |
Pharmacists | 154 (50.8) |
Doctors | 146 (48.2) |
Family or friends | 139 (45.9) |
Internet | 133 (43.9) |
Lactation consultants | 89 (29.4) |
Naturopaths or homeopathic practitioners | 87 (28.7) |
Child health nurses | 83 (27.4) |
Herbal or health food stores | 71 (23.4) |
Books, literature or journal articles | 59 (19.5) |
Others | 11 (3.6) |