Self-Medication and Safety Profile of Medicines Used among Pregnant Women in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Jimma, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Seid Mussa Ahmed, Johanne Sundby, Yesuf Ahmed Aragaw and Fekadu Abebe
Additional contact information
Seid Mussa Ahmed: Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1130 Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway
Johanne Sundby: Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1130 Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway
Yesuf Ahmed Aragaw: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia
Fekadu Abebe: Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1130 Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Despite the potential foetal and maternal risks of self-medication, studies on self-medication and safety profile of medicines used during pregnancy are scarce. This study determined the prevalence, predictors and safety profile of medicines used for self-medication during pregnancy at Jimma University Medical Centre (JUMC) in Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross sectional study was conducted on 1117 hospitalized pregnant women or postpartum women in the maternity and gynaecology wards at JUMC between February and June 2017. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and by reviewing patient medical records. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Result: Nearly 3 out of 10 women reported taking at least one type of conventional medicine for self-medication, mainly analgesics 92.3%. Almost 75.0% of the self-medicated women used medicines classified as probably safe and 13.6% as potentially risky to use during pregnancy. Medicinal plant use, religion and access to a health facility near their residency were significantly associated with self-medication during pregnancy. Conclusions: Self-medication is common among pregnant women at JUMC. Most women used medicines classified as safe to use during pregnancy. There is need for enlightenment of pregnant women on the potential dangers of self-medication during pregnancy to prevent foetal and maternal risks.

Keywords: pregnancy; self-medication; conventional medicine; safety; Ethiopia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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