Antibiotics and over the Counter Medication Use and Its Correlates Among Arab Pregnant Women Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Overview

Journal Pak J Med Sci

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2017 May 20

PMID 28523055

Citations 8

Authors

Hafsa Raheel

Sulaiman Alsakran

Abdulkhaliq Alghamdi

Majed Ajarem

Salman Alsulami

Afzal Mahmood

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Objective: The use of over the counter medications (OTCMs) is a common practice globally. OTCMs are of special concern among pregnant women as they pose risk to the mother and fetus. The objective was to assess the use of OTCMs by pregnant woman, and factors associated with it.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, using a structured self-administrated questionnaire was conducted at the obstetric and antenatal clinics at King Khalid University hospital, Riyadh. 354 pregnant women were surveyed.

Result: About 32% of the study participants used OTCMs without prescription at least once during their last pregnancy. The most commonly used OTCM was Paracetamol (22%). Pharmacists were the main source of knowledge (53%) for the participants. Correct knowledge regarding the drugs was associated with the usage of OTCM drug.

Conclusion: Use of OTCMs and antibiotics during pregnancy is a common practice among Saudi pregnant women. General awareness regarding OTCMs use during pregnancy without prescription needs to be raised in the community. Pharmacists and media can help in providing accurate knowledge.

Citing Articles

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Kirubarajan A, Lam A, Yu A, Taheri C, Khan S, Sethuram C J Family Reprod Health. 2021; 15(3):160-171.

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