Prevalence of self‐medication practices among pregnant women in India: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Background: Self‐medication practice among pregnant women is a global concern. However, its understanding in the Indian context is limited due to a lack of comprehensive studies. Purpose: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of self‐medication, the medications used for self‐medication, diseases/conditions associated with self‐medication, and the reasons for self‐medication among Indian pregnant women. Methods: This study was carried out following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA). A thorough search was done in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar to find articles that were published up until May 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies reporting self‐medication prevalence among pregnant women in India. Data were extracted using a standardized sheet, and a random‐effects model was applied to determine the overall prevalence of self‐medication using R software. The I2 statistic was employed to assess the heterogeneity among the studies. Results: This study analyzed eight studies with a collective sample size of 2208 pregnant women. The pooled prevalence of self‐medication among pregnant Indian women was 19.3% (95% CI: 7.5%–41.3%; I2 = 99%; p < 0.01). Common self‐treated conditions were cold, cough, fever, headache, and stomach disorders. Antipyretics, analgesics, antihistamines, and antacids were frequently used for self‐medication. The perception of mild ailment, immediate alleviation, convenience, time savings, and advice from family, friends, or the media were all reasons for self‐medication. Local pharmacies were the most usual source for obtaining drugs, and pharmacists, family, friends, and past prescriptions were common sources of medicine information. Conclusions: A low yet substantial number of pregnant women in India are engaged in self‐medication practices. Appropriate strategies need to be planned to reduce self‐medication practices to attain sustainable developmental goals for maternal health in India.