Medications Used by Pregnant Women: Any Safety Concerns? (original) (raw)
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Texila International Journal of Public Health, 2024
Medication usage during pregnancy is increasing twofold, and it should be considered a public health issue due to increasing complications associated with medication. Data on prescribed and selfprescribed medication among Sudani females is limited. Hence, this study aims to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of drug usage among Sudanese females, including prescribed medication and self-prescribed medication, who are registered in tertiary care facilities. A cross-sectional descriptive study was planned in the hospital setting at Omdurman Maternity Center, Sudan. Data were collected between January 2023 and February 2023 through semi-structured interviews. The sample comprised 878 pregnant females and was divided into two groups: 453 females on medication and 425 females not on medication. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and statistical significance was set at 0.05. The result of this study shows that 51.1% of females were on medication, of which 14.1% were on self-medication. The maximum drugs taken were antibiotics, followed by diabetic and hypertensive medication. Data showed a statistically significant relationship between medicine usage and chronic medical conditions (p<0.001). However, no significant association was reported between medicine usage, body mass index, gravidity, maternal age, and education. The prevalence of medicine usage among Sudani women is high. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing the initiatives undertaken by healthcare professionals, particularly in the prenatal setting, to ensure the appropriate management of medication usage during pregnancy, thereby reducing the risk of potential complications for both the mother and the fetus.
MEDICATIONS USED BY PREGNANT WOMEN: ANY SAFETY CONCERNS? Original Article
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017
Objective: The use of medications during pregnancy may impose a potential risk to the fetus. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and safety of medications used by pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic of a major teaching hospital in Malaysia, from January to April 2013. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 500 respondents in this study, 62% (95% confidence interval, CI: 57.7%, 66.3%) used at least one medication during their pregnancy and 30.8% (95% CI: 26.8%, 34.8%) took the medications during the first trimester. The classes of medications commonly used were analgesics (26.8%), followed by cough and cold medications (18.6%) and medications for gastrointestinal disorders (11.8%). Among the 697 medications used by the respondents during pregnancy, most of them were relatively safe, with approximately 50% being classified under the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA, US)-assigned pregnancy category B. However, seven potentially teratogenic medications were identified, including four antiepileptic drugs and an antimigraine medication which contained ergotamine. Conclusion: This study found that a high proportion of pregnant woman consumed at least one medication during their pregnancy. The use of antimigraine medications containing ergotamine in pregnant women is of major concern as this medication could be obtained without a prescription in some countries, including in Malaysia. Therefore, it is essential for health care professionals to educate and counsel pregnant women on the safety of medications used.
Background:Pregnancy is a special physiological process where medications intake is a major concern. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of using medications and to determine the factors associated with using medications among pregnant women attending Antenatal Care (ANC)Clinic in AL-Nawaryah Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) in Makkah, 2016. Subjects and Methods:This study included 110 pregnant. A Cross-sectional study conduct among pregnant women attending ANC Clinic in AL-Nawaryah PHCC inMakkah, 2016. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Result:Out of 110 pregnant women,84 (77.1%) were Saudi with mean age score 28.7?6.9, 50% had university degree, 89(80.9%) were housewives and 98(89.1%) from urban, 79(71.8%)reported average monthly income. Nine mothers had an abnormal child,73 (66.4%)reported the first trimester as the critical time for taking medication, 30(41.1%)reported antibiotic, and 29 (39.7%) reported analgesic as the kind of drugs need to be avoided during pregnancy. The main source of drug information was the gynecologist (76 -69.1%).There was no significant difference in the comparison of using medication during pregnancy regarding demographic data and awareness about risk Conclusion:The findings of the current study showed that the use of medications during pregnancy became common. Less than half stated using medications during pregnancy, where the common using medications were vitamins and minerals. Only about half of women reported receiving complete information about prescribed drugs from their doctors and less percentage from the pharmacist. There was a significant difference in some beliefs about medication showing that women lived in rural area had more conservative beliefs regarding use of medication
Medication use in pregnancy: a cross-sectional, multinational web-based study
Bmj Open, 2014
Objectives: Intercountry comparability between studies on medication use in pregnancy is difficult due to dissimilarities in study design and methodology. This study aimed to examine patterns and factors associated with medications use in pregnancy from a multinational perspective, with emphasis on type of medication utilised and indication for use.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are considered safe when used as directed agents and are widely used for self-medication due to their accessibility and affordability. However, self-medication during pregnancy can lead to irrational drug use and potential complications. This study aimed to assess the use of OTC medicines among pregnant women visiting public and private tertiary care hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted over three months in 2023 involving 170 pregnant women at public hospitals and 155 at private hospitals. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chisquare tests. Familiarity with OTC medications was greater among pregnant women visiting public hospitals (56.50%, p = 0.036) than among those visiting private hospitals (54.40%). Most women from public hospitals perceived all OTC drugs as safe during pregnancy (64.20%, p = 0.009). The perceived critical period for drug use varied, with more pregnant women in private hospitals identifying the first trimester as critical (58.82%, p = 0.002), while the third trimester was more commonly perceived as critical by public hospital visitors (62.50%). The use of OTC medication before and during pregnancy was similar between groups (p > 0.05). A significant difference was observed in reading OTC medicine leaflets, with more private hospital visitors reading them (60.98%, p < 0.001). This study concluded that the proportion of OTC medicine use among pregnant women visiting public and private healthcare facilities in Lahore is moderately high. There were notable differences in the sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions of OTC medication safety. Public hospital visitors were more familiar with OTC medications and believed in their safety during pregnancy, while private hospital visitors were more concerned about the first trimester and more likely to read OTC medicine leaflets. These findings highlight the need for targeted education and counseling to promote safe OTC medication practices among pregnant women.
Prescription Pattern of Drugs in Pregnancy: A Review
International Research Journal of Pharmacy, 2015
Authors carried out a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published from 2005-2014. We incorporated studies assessing individual-level exposures to medicines prescribed during pregnancy. We selected only those studies conducted in India and published in English. Published drug utilization studies reveal about 22% to 69.8% overall use of prescribed drugs during pregnancy excluding vitamins and minerals. On measuring antenatal drug use, the medications with positive evidence of risk (FDA category D) ranged from 4.8% to 24.25%. Iron, folic acid and vitamin supplements were most commonly prescribed drugs globally depending on the need of the patient and their benefit ratio. Overall drug use estimates are examined, use of drugs by therapeutic categories and by potential for fetal risk is considered while updating this review. Several studies consistently reported the usage of drugs with potential risks during pregnancy. Due to such extensive use, it is essential to develop standards for assessing and reporting antenatal exposures to refine any future research in this field. The prescribing practices of Indian physicians are similar to those in developed countries.
Pharmacoepidemiology in pregnancy
Therapie, 2019
Taking a medication is usually a challenge for a pregnant woman as the beneficial drug effect on the mother has to be considered regarding its potential adverse effects, not only for her but also for her unborn child. As medication use is common in pregnant women, by chance or necessity, it gives the opportunity to evaluate the consequences of prenatal drug exposure in real life through pharmacoepidemiological studies. This paper provides an overview of data sources, study designs and data analysis methods that can be used for pregnancy medication safety studies. In the future, the implementation of responsive international networks may be the keystones of drug evaluation in pregnancy.
Evaluation of Usage of Drugs in Pregnancy at Private Hospitals
Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2021
Background: Pregnancy represents a special physiological state during which the use of the drug is inevitable due to the risk of teratogenicity with drugs. The evaluation of prescribing drugs in pregnancy is required due to a lack of knowledge about the harmful effects of these drugs in pregnant women and fetuses. Aim: To evaluate prescribing pattern of drugs and the FDA drug risk category in pregnant women at private hospitals. Materials and Methods: The observational prospective and multicenter study were conducted in 386 pregnant women for 6 months. Each prescription was analyzed for demographic variables, medical illness, antimicrobials, risk categories of drugs prescribed, dosage forms, and WHO prescribing indicators. Results: A total of 2507 drugs were reported in the 637 prescriptions of 386 patients. A large proportion of women had anemia during pregnancy (42.9%). Majority of prescriptions prescribed oral dosage forms of drugs (81.53%) and injections (15.59%). The majority of drugs used in this study were from Category A which included anti-anemic, thyroid therapy drugs, vitamins, and minerals, followed by category C which included calcium supplements, muscle relaxants, and antihypertensive medications. No drugs were prescribed from category X. Conclusion: Iron, Calcium, and Folic acid along with Vitamins and Minerals were the most frequently prescribed drugs. In general, the drug use pattern is rational with few exceptions. The majority of drugs were used from category A followed by Category C. Drugs prescribed by their Brand name were higher than prescribed by their Generic name.
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research Journal, 2022
Objective: The aim of the study was to study and evaluate the pattern of drug use in pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of obstetrics and gynaecology department at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in M.G.M. Medical College and Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar. The study included 368 pregnant women who consented and provided written informed consent for participation in this study during the study period from January 2020 to November 2021. Results: Time for seeking the first antenatal check-up was majorly in 1st trimester (48.10%), followed by 35.60% in the 2nd and 16.30% in the 3rd trimester. A total of 3054 drugs were prescribed in all three trimesters from all organ systems. The majority belonged to blood and bone-forming agents, followed by antimicrobials and gastrointestinal drugs. Analyzing the prescribing trend grossly depicts that the drug prescribing showed a gradual increase from 18 to 2nd trimester, followed by a slow drop in 3rd trimester. During the entire study period, there were 177 prescriptions for 1st trimester, 306 prescriptions for 2nd trimester, and 366 prescriptions for 3rd trimester. Conclusion: Our study site revealed a greater tendency to prescribe by generic name rather than by brand name in our hospital, which is a good sign as it reduces the economic burden on the patients. In other previous studies, it was less. Prescribing percentage of antibiotics in all trimesters was on the high rise, while the percentage of encounters with injection was within acceptable ranges. The majority of prescribing corroborated with national drug policy and was in concurrence with the national drug formulary and NLEM 2015, which reflects the essence of rational prescribing of pregnancy drugs in our set-up.