Knowledge and practices of pregnant women in relation to the intake of drugs during pregnancy
Rizk, M.A.; Abdel-Aziz, F.; Ashmawy, A.A.; Mahmoud, A.A.; Abuzeid, T.M.
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association 68(5-6): 567-591
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-2446 PMID: 7775881 Document Number: 415483
In Egypt, 400 randomly selected pregnant women attending prenatal clinics affiliated with El-Shatby Maternity Hospital, Dar El-Welada Hospital, Gamal Abdel Nasser Hospital, Boharram Bay Maternal and Child Health Center, and Bacous Maternal and Child Health Center were interviewed to determine their knowledge of and practices related to drug intake during pregnancy. 47.7% had adequate knowledge (i.e., 75% correct answers) of drug use during pregnancy. Only 14% did not use any drugs during pregnancy. The remaining 86% used drugs without a prescription. The most common drugs used were vitamins and tonics (78.8%), antacids (66.5%), analgesics (41.8%), and antiemetics (35.5%). The leading reasons for drug use included general weakness (78.8%), heart burn and indigestion (66.5%), headaches (41.8%), vomiting (35.5%), and cough and insomnia (27.5%). Factors associated with poor knowledge of drug use during pregnancy were: younger than 30, illiteracy, being a housewife, primigravidity, and history of abortion (p 0.05 for all factors). These findings indicate a need to inform pregnant women about the dangers of drug use during pregnancy, especially during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Nurses should play a key role in communicating these risks.