Medication use during pregnancy: data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
OBJECTIVE
To present data on the self-reported use of all types of medicinal products collected during pregnancy in a large cohort in southwest England.


METHODS
Pregnant women with a delivery date during 1991-1992 and forming part of the prospective, population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were sent up to four self-completion postal questionnaires during pregnancy. Text data collected from the questions on drug usage were coded using an ALSPAC drug dictionary based on the World Health Organization Drug Dictionary.


RESULTS
At least one antenatal self-completion questionnaire was completed for 14,119 pregnancies, and 11,545 women completed all four. The data included prescription, over-the-counter, herbal and homeopathic products as well as iron, vitamins and other supplements. Only 7.6% did not report use of any medicinal product throughout their entire pregnancy. The remaining 92.4% used at least one product at some stage. After exclusion of iron, folate, vitamins, supplements, herbal and homeopathic products and skin emollients, 83% of those completing all questionnaires had used conventional therapeutic drugs. Analgesics were reported by approximately one-third of women at each stage during pregnancy, and paracetamol was the most frequently reported substance. Iron preparations were reported by 33% of the full cohort, at some stage, and folate by 21.9%. Use of anti-anaemic products increased during pregnancy with the greatest incidence at 32 weeks. Other vitamins and supplements were taken by 17.4% at some stage. Use of vitamins decreased throughout pregnancy from 9.6% in early pregnancy to 5% at 32 weeks. Antacids were reported by 23% at 32 weeks. The reported incidence of antibiotic use decreased slightly during pregnancy from 8% early on to 5.8% at 32 weeks; amoxicillin was the most frequently reported antibacterial.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of medicinal products was high during pregnancy in the ALSPAC cohort. This finding is consistent with data from recent publications.
Headley
J
J
Unit of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK. Judith.Headley@bristol.ac.uk
Northstone
K
K
Simmons
H
H
Golding
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations