Assessment of Self-Medication Practices among Pregnant Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nursing specialist, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

2 lecturer of Woman's Health and Midwifery Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

3 Professor of Woman's Health and Midwifery Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Self-medication can cause significant challenges for the individuals and community especially among
women during pregnancy. Aim: This study aimed to assess self-medication practice among pregnant women. Study
design: Descriptive cross sectional design. Setting: The study was carried out in antenatal clinics of Obstetric and
Gynecological Specialty Center at Mansoura University Hospital, Mansoura New General Hospital and Mansoura Old
General Hospital Sample type: Convenient sample was used. Study subjects: The study subjects included 382 pregnant
women Tools: Two tools were used, structured interviewing questionnaires, assessment of self-medication practice
questionnaires. Results: The current study showed that more than half of the pregnant women used vitamin D as a selfmedication
followed by vitamin A and iron. Also, two thirds of studied women took panadol as analgesic followed by
paracetamol, more than two thirds of pregnant women took flummox followed by Augmentin. Moreover, the study
results showed that most common reported symptom were headache followed by morning sickness. Also, that most
common reasons for self-medication that medication were easily to obtain, illness not serious and that they have previous
experience regarding the medications. Pharmacy and left over medications were the main source of self-medication
practices. Conclusion: The current study concluded that, analgesics, herbs, antibiotics and vitamins were the most
common drugs used as a self-medications. Headache and morning sickness were the most symptoms to take selfmedications.
Recommendations: Simple, well-designed brochures will be designed and distributed among pregnant
women to increase their awareness regarding risks of self-medications.
 

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