Antenatal drug consumption: the burden of self-medication in a developing world setting.
This institutional-based cross-sectional study examines the burden of self-medication during pregnancy in a middle-income country setting and the impact on fetal wellbeing. Using a blend of open-ended and indication-oriented questionnaires, 346 pregnant women at term were interviewed about their pregnancy complaints and drug intake. Inferential statistical data analysis was employed with level of significance (α) set at 0.05. Excluding routine supplements and vaccinations, 251 (72.5%) women used medicines, of whom 79 (31.5%) had self-medicated. Consuming drugs without prescription was associated with increased US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) risk category (χ2= 8.375; P = 0.015). There is therefore a need to scale up efforts towards educating women about the dangers of self-medication, while also introducing effective restrictive policies on over-the-counter drug sales.
Clinical Lecturer, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Abiodun Idowu
AI
Adanikin
Clinical Lecturer, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Jacob Olumuyiwa
JO
Awoleke
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs
Pregnancy; medical complaints; self-medication