Assessing the Knowledge of Analgesic Drugs Utilization during Pregnancy among Women in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Maryam Jamal AlSaeed and Dalia Ahmed Elmaghraby
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Maryam Jamal AlSaeed: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
Dalia Ahmed Elmaghraby: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Pain is a common compensation mechanism in pregnant women that they may face during gestation due to physiological changes. Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most administered analgesic drugs worldwide. Therefore, safety and efficacy are important measures for the use of analgesics during pregnancy. Objective: Assess the knowledge of analgesic drug utilization among Saudi pregnant women. Method: We conducted a self-administered survey with an electronic questionnaire via Google Drive among a sample of 406 Saudi women. Results: About half of the respondents took analgesics during the first trimester, and 52.5% of women have used analgesics at least once without any medical advice during their gestation. Most participants agreed that paracetamol is the safest and effective analgesic drug during pregnancy, yet 61.8% of women are not aware that analgesics could be detrimental to the fetus if inappropriately administered in the third trimester. Conclusion: Participants have a good perception of the safest and most effective analgesic drug during pregnancy, but they have poor knowledge about analgesics’ side effects.

Keywords: analgesics; pregnancy; safety; effectiveness; knowledge; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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