Use of acupuncture and other CAM methods in obstetrics: an analysis of 409,413 deliveries from Hesse, Germany.

Objectives: This study was done to analyze the frequency of use of acupuncture and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods during labor and to investigate the different characteristics of women being treated with or without acupuncture and CAM methods, as well as try to analyze birth-related outcome measures.

Study Design: Data were analyzed from 409,413 deliveries, registered between 2001 and 2008 by the agency for quality assurance in Hesse (the Hessian Perinatal Registry [HEPE] survey), which made up more than 95% of all deliveries in this German state during the given time period.

Results: Interest in the use of CAM seems to have decreased within the given time period.