| S/N | Author/s | Setting | Study design; data collection techniques used | Sample size, participants | Study objective | Types of TM used | Timing of HM use |
| 1 | Al-Ghamdi et al., [8] | Saudi Arabia, urban | A descriptive cross-sectional; structured survey | N = 612, Saudi pregnant women | determine the prevalence of herbal medication use during pregnancy, during labour and after delivery. | Not stated | Pregnancy, labour, post-delivery |
| 2 | Allaire et al., [26] | North Carolina, US | Quantitative; Survey | N = 120, nurse-midwives | determine the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine therapies used by certified nurse-midwives. | Ginger, peppermint, raspberry leaf, chamomile, castor oil, blue cohosh, st john’s wort, valerian, black cohosh, motherwort, shepherd’s purse, dong quai, Arnica, comfrey, alfalfa, garlic | Pregnancy, labour |
| 3 | Bercaw et al., [27] | Houston- US, urban | Quantitative cross-sectional; structured survey | N = 485, Hispanic women in US | investigate the use of herbs, vitamins, and over-the counter and prescription medications among pregnant Hispanic women and reasons for use | chamomile, garlic, aloe vera, ginger, Marielito, Echinacea, blue cohosh, cod liver oil | Pregnancy, labour |
| 4 | Bury et al., [28] | Bolivia, both rural and urban | Qualitative and quantitative methods; IDIs, FGDs, structured survey | N = 1175, women | explore women’s experience of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion | Not stated | Pregnancy, induce abortion |
| 5 | Charaf et al., [13] | Brisbane- Australia, urban | Quantitative cross-sectional; structured survey | N = 412, women who had made their first antenatal visit | determine the factors associated with the use of CAMs by women for preconception care. | milk thistle, dandelion, Chinese herbs, ginseng, Ganoderma (a medicinal mushroom extract), guarana, St John’s wort, spirulina, echinacea | Pre-pregnancy |
| 6 | Chaudhry et al., [12] | Ohio - US; urban | Quantitative; structured survey questionnaire | N = 201 women | to identify how frequently women, attempt to induce labour through nonprescribed methods, and what factors are associated with the use of such methods | Not stated | Labour induction |
| 7 | Fakeye et al., [29] | Nigeria; urban/ peri-urban, rural | Quantitative; structured survey, face-to-face interviews | N = 595 pregnant women | the use of herbal medicines, safety on usage, knowledge of potential effects of herbal remedies on the foetus and potential benefits or harms that may be derived from combining herbal remedies with conventional therapies | infusions of Camellia Sinensis (tea), | Pregnancy |
| 8 | Louik et al., [30] | Boston University, US; urban | Quantitative’ structured surveys | N = 4866 mothers of nonmalformed infant | antenatal herbal and natural product use among mothers of nonmalformed infants in 5 geographic centres. | echinacea, arnica, ginger, raspberry, valerian, gingko biloba, Metabolife [Metabolife International, Inc., San Diego, CA], ginseng, chamomile, cranberry juice, acidophilus, fish oil, evening primrose oil | Pregnancy, labour, postpartum |