Self-medication amongst pregnant women in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India
Open accessAbstract
Background: Self-medication is a popular practice in developing countries where there is no strict regulation of drugs sold in local pharmacies. General public is usually unaware of the adverse effects of drugs used for common illness and continue using them without prescription during pregnancy. This study was carried out to know the extent of self-medication practised by pregnant women and various factors associated with it.Methods: A questionnaire based, cross-sectional study of pregnant women visiting the OB GYN-OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital was conducted. 303 eligible subjects were questioned and statistical analysis was carried out.Results: Total 16.5% women were found to be self-medicating during pregnancy for common conditions like headache (26%), fever (23%) and common cold (19%). Odds Ratio between the self-medicating and non-self-medicating groups for variables like age (<25 years; ≥25 years), education (illiterate; literate) and gestational age (<20 weeks; ≥20 weeks) are 1.6, 2 and 1.73 respectively. Women with a history of self-medicating before pregnancy were significantly more likely to continue doing so during pregnancy (p value <0.00001).Conclusions: A significant proportion of pregnant women have been found to self-medicate without knowing the adverse effects of the drug used. Thus, spreading awareness against this health-predicament is necessary.
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The easy availability of OTC drugs and loose regulations in many regions facilitate self-medication.
“The easy availability of OTC drugs and loose regulations in many regions facilitate this practice.28”
From Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [28]
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Cites
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Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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Automedicación materna en escolares de Tabasco, México
Hernández, J. A. C., Álvarez, H. R. P., Cabrera, A. M. L., & Juárez, F. D. L. Á. A. (2026) · Gaceta Médica Boliviana · doi:10.47993/gmb.v49i2.1375
- Authors
- Rangwala, P. P., Chokshi, A. S., Shah, R. K., Thakkar, A. S., Thakker, Y. G., Dumra, G. H., & Trivedi, Y. N.
- Affiliations
- Narendra Modi Medical College (IN)
- Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College (IN)
- GCS Medical College (IN)
- ORCID
- Trivedi, Yamini N.
- Venue
- International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Publisher
- Medip Academy
- Published
- 2020-12-26
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 256
- ISSN
- 2320-1770 (ISSN-L)
- 2320-1789
- OpenAlex
- W3117179543
- Cited by
- 5
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 0.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Reproduction Contraception Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy and Medication Impact
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacy and Medical Practices
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Keywords
- self-medication, pregnancy, pregnant women, non-prescription drug use, headache, fever, common cold, drug safety in pregnancy, risk factors, maternal health awareness
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