U.K. Support Network for Maternity Acupuncture: Survey of Acupuncturists on the Acupuncture (for Conception to) Childbirth Team

Debra Betts

Mike Armour

Nicola Robinson

^{NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.}

^{Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.}

^{Allied Health Sciences, School of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London.}

^{Centre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.}

Address correspondence to: Debra Betts, PhD, LAc, NICM Health Research Institute, Locked Bag 1797, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Penrith, New South Wales 2751, Australia zn.ten.emozihr@stteb.arbeD

Abstract

Objective: In the United Kingdom, a professional acupuncture network, the Acupuncture (for Conception to) Childbirth Team (ACT), provides education and support for practitioners using maternity acupuncture. However, the nature of treatments their members provide has been unknown. The aim of this survey was to explore how ACT members used acupuncture for maternity care within their women's health practices.

Materials and Methods: An anonymous self-completion questionnaire, hosted by Survey Monkey, was completed by practitioners from 10 ACT branches. Questions covered demographic information, type and frequency of treatment provided in the previous year, and referral networks. Descriptive statistics were used to report the data.

Results: Of 114 survey forms sent, 99 replies were received, a response rate of 86.8%. In addition to fertility and menstrual conditions, the majority of the practitioners (87 [87.8%]) had treated at least 1 pregnant woman each. The most-common maternity situations encountered were: birth preparation (84 [96.5%]); nausea & vomiting (82 [94.2%]); and inducing labor (79 [90.8%]). More than 50% of the practitioners were also treating lower-back and pelvic pain (77 [88.5%]), breech presentations (74 [85.0%]), threatened miscarriages (55 [63.2%]), and headaches/migraines (46 [52.8%]). Only a minority (8 [9.1%]) attended births. A greater number of referrals were received from medical health professionals for pregnancy (54 [65.8%]) than for fertility (16 [19.5%]) or menstrual conditions (8 [9.7%]).

Conclusions: ACT practitioners were treating a wide range of maternity conditions. Referrals from Western medical practitioners were more common for maternity acupuncture than for fertility or menstrual health. It may be that this professional network approach would be beneficial in other countries to support practitioners interested in providing maternity acupuncture.

Keywords: acupuncture, pregnancy, maternity acupuncture, fertility, menstruation, reproductive health

Abstract

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mark Bovey, Research Manager of the British Acupuncture Council for his assistance with ethics submission. Thanks are extended to Ms. Savory for her involvement in the early planning, and her role in contacting and follow-through with the regional ACT coordinators. Thanks are also extended to the acupuncturists belonging to ACT who gave their time to participate in this survey and to the regional coordinators for their assistance in distributing this survey to their members.

Drs. Betts and Armour designed the survey, and Dr. Robinson advised on content and ethical approval. Dr. Armour helped with data analyses. All of the authors were involved in drafting and critically revising the manuscript for this article. All authors read and approved the final article.

Acknowledgments

Footnotes

^Visitwww.surveymonkey.com for more information.

Footnotes

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