Prevalence and risk factors of self-medication in pregnancy: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India
Open accessAbstract
Background: Self-medication in pregnancy is a common but unsafe practice. There is a possibility of surreptitious exposure of the developing fetus to the teratogenic and abortifacient effects of the drugs. Aims and Objectives: In this study, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors of self-medication in pregnant mothers visiting the antenatal clinic in our hospital. Materials and Methods: A standard questionnaire seeking information on the socio-demographic profile, clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and knowledge and habits was administered to the pregnant mothers (n=190). The risk factors of self-medication were determined using Fischer’s exact test. P<0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of self-medication in pregnancy was found to be 6.3%. Low education level (P<0.027), employed women (P<0.031), and history of miscarriage (P<0.036) in the previous pregnancy were the main determinants of self-medication in the present pregnancy. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication in the study sample was low as compared to contemporary studies. High literacy (94.2%) and easy availability of health facility (98%) may be the possible reasons. Further studies are warranted to confirm the prevalence and risk factors of self-medication in this part of the country.
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Individuals may depend on their knowledge of medicines acquired through past experiences or general awareness.
“Additionally, individuals may depend on their knowledge of medicines acquired through past experiences or general awareness.26,31”
From Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
The Discussion (page not provided) suggests that readily available information on the web may have prompted some participants to self-medicate, which partly supports reliance on general knowledge. It does not say that individuals relied on medicine knowledge gained through past experiences. (LLM, conf=0.77)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIndividuals often draw upon their knowledge and past experiences when self-medicating, trusting their familiarity with certain treatments.
“Moreover, individuals often draw upon their knowledge and past experiences when self-medicating, trusting their familiarity with certain treatments.26,27”
From Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
The Discussion links self-medication in pregnancy to limited awareness of risks and suggests that online information may prompt it; it does not say people rely on past treatment experience or trust familiar treatments. A search for prior experience and familiarity found no passage addressing that explanation. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.72)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPrevious prescriptions serve as references for treating recurring health issues.
“while previous prescriptions serve as references for treating recurring health issues.26”
From Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [26]
The Results describe reasons for self-medication, and the Discussion describes associated factors, but neither says that people use previous prescriptions to treat recurring health issues. Searches for previous prescriptions and reuse of old prescriptions for the same symptoms found no passage addressing that point; page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.74)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Research works printed but not linked: 16
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Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Chaudhary, V., Kumari, S., Sharma, B., Ahuja, C., Kishore, H., & Pal, B. (2025) · Medical Journal Armed Forces India · doi:10.1016/j.mjafi.2024.11.008 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Chaudhary, V., Kumari, S., Khurana, N., Azharuddin, M., Singh, A. P., Devi, V., Dhir, D., & Pal, B. (2024) · Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety · doi:10.1002/pds.5791 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gupta, M., Dalai, C. K., Ahmed, S. N., Sarkar, D., UR, R. R., & Nirala, S. K.
- Affiliations
- College of Medicine & JNM Hospital (IN)
- Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College & Hospital (IN)
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (IN)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Asian Journal of Medical Sciences
- Published
- 2021-12-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 68-72
- ISSN
- 2091-0576 (ISSN-L)
- 2467-9100
- OpenAlex
- W3216344892
- Cited by
- 5
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 0.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Asian Journal of Medical Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy and Medication Impact
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Keywords
- self-medication, pregnancy, prevalence, risk factors, prenatal care, maternal education, miscarriage history, teratogenic drugs, prenatal drug exposure, maternal health knowledge
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