Does the historical stigma of hyperemesis gravidarum impact health care professionals' attitudes towards and treatment of women with the condition today? A review of recent literature

摘要

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a condition affecting pregnant women in which extreme levels of intractable nausea and vomiting lead to dehydration, malnutrition and a host of other complications (Dean & Gadsby 2013). Affecting 1-1.5% of the pregnant population (Einarson etal 2013), the condition sees around 10,500 women per year requiring in excess of 25,000 hospital admissions (Gadsby 8c Barnie-Adshead 2011b). However, this figure does not take into account the estimated 30% of women who suffer high levels of morbidity from nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) without accessing secondary care services (Gadsby & Barnie-Adshead 2011a).