Forsch Komplementarmed. 1999 Feb; 6 Suppl 1(): 23-5.

[Quality of life of pregnant women in homeopathic or mainstream medical type of care and the course of the pregnancy]

Hochstrasser B.

This study investigated 120 pregnant women cared for and treated by physicians specialized in homeopathy and 85 pregnant women cared for and treated by mainstream gynecologists. Quality of life was assessed twice during pregnancy and once shortly after delivery by the instrument SEIQoL (Schedule for the Evaluation of Individualized Quality of Life). In addition, the study registered individual personality characteristics, the psychological situation, the attitude towards the forthcoming delivery, and the functional state before and after delivery. It turned out that women who preferred homeopathic care judged their quality of life lower than women from the other group. However, their criteria for medical decisions and for the assessment of their own personal situation differed as well. There was some correlation between quality of life and age, number of deliveries, partnership and certain personality characteristics. The study showed the importance of paying more attention to the subjective world of the pregnant women. This applies especially in an analysis of two dissimilar therapeutic systems. It could also be concluded that the SEIQoL was a useful instrument for such a study. Finally it turned out that the two populations investigated were different.