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Table 2 Background characteristics of participants(n = 588)

From: Herbal medicine use during pregnancy in a group of Australian women

Characteristic

No.

%

Age (median, range)

32

(18–46)

Marital status (n = 584)

  

   Married

422

72.3

   Living with partner

118

20.2

   Has partner, not cohabiting

17

2.9

   Single

21

3.6

   Separated or divorced

5

0.9

   Widowed

1

0.2

Secondary schooling (n = 584)

  

   Completed secondary school to final year (12)

475

81.3

   Did not complete secondary school

97

16.6

   Attended primary school only

10

1.7

   Did not attend primary school

2

0.3

Higher education (n = 560)

  

   Degree or higher

235

42.0

   No degree

325

58.0

Taxable income for the household for last year, AUD (n = 516)*

  

   < $20,000

82

15.9

   $20,000–$30,000

75

14.5

   $30,000–$40,000

66

12.8

   $40,000–$50,000

63

12.2

   > $50,000

230

44.6

Country of birth (only top 7 listed) (n = 583)

  

   Australia

314

53.9

   Vietnam

66

11.3

   China

31

5.3

   New Zealand

18

3.1

   India

15

2.6

   UK and Eire

13

2.2

   Turkey

10

1.7

If not born in Australia, years in Australia (n = 256)

  

   Mean (SD)

10

(sd 9.2)

   Median (range)

8

(0–36)

English first language (n = 581)

  

   Yes

378

65.1

Religion (n = 505)

  

   Christian

237

46.9

   Muslim

55

10.9

   Buddhist

49

9.7

   Hindu

8

1.6

   Other

4

0.8

   None

152

30.0

Pre-pregnancy smoking (579)

  

   None

436

75.3

   1–9

83

14.3

   10–19

40

6.9

   20–29

16

2.8

   30–39

4

0.7

   >40

0

-

Gestation at recruitment (n = 575)

  

   Mean (sd)

38.45

(sd 1.28)

   Median (range)

38

(29–42)

First baby (n = 582)

  

   Yes

310

53.3

Previous pregnancy losses (could tick more than one option)

  

   Termination of pregnancy

134

22.8

   Miscarriage (including ectopic pregnancies)

113

19.2

   Stillbirth >20 weeks gestation

6

1.0

   Neonatal death

1

0.2

   None of these

353

60

Model of pregnancy care (n = 586)

  

   Public hospital clinic (doctor or midwife)

280

47.7

   Shared care (majority of care with local family doctor)

171

29.2

   Team midwifery or midwives clinic

93

15.9

   Family Birth Centre

41

7.0

  1. * Australian average annual income for those is currently employed is $42,484 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Feb 2006, http://www.abs.gov.au); for those not currently employed, Government pensions and allowances provide income support of up to approximately $10–12,000 per year http://www.centrelink.gov.au