Self-Medication Among Pregnant Women: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Prevalence of Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Who Attended Antenatal Care at Public Hospitals of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Background

Self-medication practice is the use of medicine without consulting health professionals to treat self-recognized illness by the general population including pregnant women. Inappropriate self-medication practice during pregnancy may pose harmful consequences for the fetus as well as the mother. There is not given much attention on the practice of self-medication among pregnant women in our setting. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women who attended antenatal care at North Shewa Zone public hospitals.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 01, 2022 to July 30, 2022, among 650 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at North Shewa Zone public hospitals. A multistage sampling technique was employed. The questionnaires were pretested. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and reviewed medical records were used for data collection. Epi-data version 4.6.2 and SPSS version 20 were utilized for data entry and analysis, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done to identify associated factors, and P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of self-medication practice among pregnant women was 65.38%. Housewives (AOR = 0.097 95% CI 0.030, 0.310), farmers (AOR = 0.117, 95% CI 0.028, 0.493), people with health insurance (AOR = 0.507, 95% CI 0.300, 0.858), and people in preconception care (AOR = 0.038, 95% CI 0.011-0.135) were less likely to practice self-medication, while people with primary education (AOR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.217, 7.435), income less than 3,000 birr (AOR = 5.46, 95% CI 1.41, 21.1), participants in the first (AOR = 4.183, 95% CI 2.12, 8.24) and second trimesters (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.18, 3.56), pregnant women who lived in rural areas (AOR = 1.579, 95% CI 1.103-2.260), and people who previously practiced self-medication (AOR = 8.2, 95% CI 5.04, 13.3) were more likely to practice self-medication.

Conclusion

From the present finding, it can be concluded that self-medication among pregnant women is high. Previous self-medication practice, gestation period, educational status, monthly income, no preconception care, no health insurance, being a housewife, farmer, and place of residence were significantly associated with self-medication practice. Therefore, preventive measures such as proper counseling during dispensing, awareness creation programs on preconception care, and enrolling in health insurance programs to minimize the practice of self-medication are necessary.

Prevalence and associated factors of self-medication in worldwide pregnant women: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Self-medication during pregnancy is of great interest. The use of drugs during pregnancy requires a careful reflection on the benefits to the mother and the risks to the fetus. Selecting a drug or drugs for treating pregnant women can be difficult for clinicians owing to the various pharmacokinetic and physiological changes encountered during pregnancy. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of self-medication and associated factors among women during pregnancy.

METHODS

Searches were carried out at PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The quality of the studies and the risk of bias were analyzed using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies instrument. The extracted data were tabulated and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively through meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women was 44.50% (95% CI: 38.92-50.23). Subgroup analyses showed differences in self-medication prevalence influenced by region, county income, and study design. The Heterogeneity, assessed by the statistical test I2 varied from 96 to 99% and was statistically significant. The result of this funnel plot showed that the funnel plot was symmetry with p-value = 0.36, and there is no publication bias.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained from this study showed that the prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women is relatively high. This requires effective measures and interventions to reduce self-medication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ID =  CRD42022312333 .

Maternal Health Care Utilization Behavior, Local Wisdom, and Associated Factors Among Women in Urban and Rural Areas, Indonesia

Purpose

Maternal mortality is one problem that still affects countries like Indonesia and others globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that Southeast Asian countries have a high MMR. Indonesia's maternal mortality ranks third highest in Southeast Asia, with a 177 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births in 2017. In 2018, the maternal mortality rate reached 91.45 per 100,000 live births. Pregnant women's deaths can be caused inadequate medical care due to how frequently they seek treatment. This study intends to identify and analyze how knowledge, education, and myths affect pregnant women's attitudes toward seeking health services.

Materials and Methods

The study involved 175 pregnant and postpartum women who visited 10 health public centers in two cities in East Java by accidental sampling. Data regarding intrapersonal, interpersonal, and local wisdom were collected through surveys with structured instruments and in-depth interviews. Data statistics used pathway analysis with a p-value of >0.05.

Results

Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and local wisdom variables have a significant direct or indirect effect on utilizing health services. Knowledge was the variable with the greatest influence (t-value, 27.96).

Conclusion

Myth and culture as local wisdom and intrapersonal factors significantly affect the pattern of utilizing health services.