Self-medication among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Makongoro health centre in Mwanza, Tanzania: a challenge to health systems.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Self-medication is a universal challenge that requires attention because of the potential threat not only to the pregnant women but also to unborn child. Data on self-medication practice and predictors among pregnant women is lacking in Tanzania. Information on the effects of this practice to the pregnant woman and the foetus globally is also scanty.

METHODS:

This was a cross sectional study which was conducted using face to face interview with 372 pregnant women at Makongoro health centre. Semi-structured questionnaires were used. Data were analysed using STATA 13 (Statistical Corporation, College Station, Texas, US).

RESULTS:

A total of 372 pregnant women participated in the study. The prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women was 172 (46.24%). There was a significant statistical association between self-medication and occupation (P value =0.01), gestation age (P < 0.01) and education (P < 0.01). Age, marital status and gravidity were not associated with self-medication (P = 0.809, P = 0.243 and P = 0.922) respectively. When bivariate logistic regression was performed, occupation and education were the only determining factors for self-medication. Pregnant women who were unemployed, doing business and house wife were most likely to practice self-medication than employed pregnant women (P = 0.03; OR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.06-5.31, P = 0.01; OR = 2.31; CI 1.21-4.41, P = <0.01, OR = 2.73, 95% CI 0.52-2.43) respectively. Pregnant women with no formal education, incomplete primary education, primary education and secondary education were most likely to practice self-medication than pregnant women with college or university education (P < 0.01, OR = 6.37 95% CI 2.37-19.03, P < 0.01, OR = 6.58, 95% CI 2.36-18.25, P < 0.01, OR = 3.78, 95% CI 1.89-7.56, P < 0.01, OR = 2.59 95% CI = 1.30-5.17). The leading illness/symptoms which led to self-medication among pregnant women attending clinic were malaria 56 (32.56%, morning sickness 44 (25.55%) and headache 33(19.19%). Drugs commonly used in self-medication among pregnant women were ant malarial 42 (24.42%), antiemetics 59 (34.30%) and analgesics 33 (19.19%).

CONCLUSION:

Prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women is high in Tanzania. This is a threat to the safety of the developing foetus and the pregnant woman. Therefore there is a need of interventions to minimize the practice among pregnant women.

• Authors: Karol J Marwa, Agnes Njalika, Deodatus Ruganuza, Deogratias Katabalo, Erasmus Kamugisha
• Journal: BMC pregnancy and childbirth (BMC Pregnancy Childbirth) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 16 (01 08 2018) ISSN: 1471-2393 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29310609 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Antiemetics
• Antimalarials

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Antimalarials (therapeutic use)
• Commerce
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Educational Status
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Headache (drug therapy)
• Household Work
• Humans
• Malaria (drug therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Morning Sickness (drug therapy)
• Pregnancy
• Self Medication (statistics & numerical data)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Tanzania
• Unemployment
• Young Adult