Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Study

Eva Gerbier, Guillaume Favre, Fatima Tauqeer, Ursula Winterfeld, Milos Stojanov, Alison Oliver, Anneke Passier, Hedvig Nordeng, Léo Pomar, David Baud, Alice Panchaud, Carla Meyer-Massetti and Michael Ceulemans
Additional contact information
Eva Gerbier: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Guillaume Favre: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Fatima Tauqeer: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
Ursula Winterfeld: Swiss Teratogen Information Service and Clinical Pharmacology Service, CHUV, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland
Milos Stojanov: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Alison Oliver: UK Teratology Information Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the UK Health Security Agency, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3HD, UK
Anneke Passier: Teratology Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, ‘s Hertogenbosch, 5237 MH Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Hedvig Nordeng: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
Léo Pomar: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
David Baud: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Alice Panchaud: Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Carla Meyer-Massetti: Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Michael Ceulemans: Teratology Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, ‘s Hertogenbosch, 5237 MH Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Information on medication utilization among pregnant and postpartum women during the pandemic is lacking. We described the prevalence and patterns of self-reported medication use among pregnant and postpartum women during the third wave of the pandemic (June–August 2021). An online questionnaire was distributed in five European countries between June–August 2021. Pregnant women or women who had delivered in the three preceding months, and ≥18 years old, could participate. The prevalence of overall medication use, self-medication, and changes in chronic medication use were determined. A total of 2158 women out of 5210 participants (41.4%) used at least one medication. Analgesics (paracetamol), systemic antihistamines (cetirizine), and drugs for gastric disorders (omeprazole) were the three most used classes. Anti-infectives were less prevalent than during pre-pandemic times. Antidepressants and anxiety related medication use remained similar, despite a higher prevalence of these symptoms. Self-medication was reported in 19.4% of women, and 4.1% of chronic medication users reported that they changed a chronic medication on personal initiative due to the pandemic. In conclusion, medication use patterns in our cohort were mostly similar to those of the first COVID-19 wave and the pre-pandemic period. More studies are needed to explore factors associated with self-medication and changes in chronic medication use due to the pandemic in this perinatal population.

Keywords: pregnancy; postpartum; pharmacoepidemiology; drug utilization; medication use; self-medication; chronic disease; COVID-19; pandemic; Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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