Abiri Onome Thomas, Lawal Shakiratu, Coker Joshua, Russell James Baligeh Walter, Kamara Ibrahim Franklyn, Sesay N'falie Ibrahim, Kanu Joseph Sam, Turay Foday Umaro, Lahai Michael, Carter Henry Edward Clarence, Bawoh Mohamed, Samai Mohamed
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
J Pharm Policy Pract. 2024 Jul 24;17(1):2380874. doi: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2380874. eCollection 2024.
Despite the potential foetal and maternal risks of self-medication, studies on self-medication practice and the safety profile of medicines used during pregnancy are scarce in our setting. This study determined the self-medication practice and safety profile of medicines used among pregnant women.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in face-to-face interviews among 345 pregnant women at three hospitals in Sierra Leone. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression to determine the prevalence and associated factors of self-medication.
A total of 345 pregnant women participated in the study. The prevalence of self-medication prevalence among pregnant women with conventional and/or herbal medicine was 132 (38.3%). Also, 93 (75%) of the conventional medicines (CMs) were categorised as probably safe, of which paracetamol 36 (29.0%) was commonly used, followed by amoxicillin 23 (18.5%) and antimalarials 22 (17.7%) for common illnesses such as headache 30 (25.4%), urinary tract infection 23 (19.4%) and malaria 22 (18.6%). The most common reason for self-medication was previous experience with the disease 24 (27.3%). 19 (30.2%) was the most used herbal medicine (HM), and Oedema 30 (47.6%) was the most reported ailment. Among the HM users, 34 (54.0%) believe they are more effective than CMs. Secondary school education (AOR = 2.128, 95%CI = 1.191-3.804, = 0.011), tertiary education (AOR = 2.915, 95%CI = 1.104-7.693, = 0.031), monthly income of greater than NLe 1,000 (AOR = 4.084, 95% CI = 1.269-13.144, = 0.018), and perceived maternal illness (AOR = 0.367, CI = 0.213-0.632, = <0.001) were predictors of self-medication.
Self-medication practice was highly prevalent and was associated with educational status, monthly income, and perceived maternal illness during pregnancy. Therefore, intervention programmes should be designed and implemented to minimise the practice and risk associated with self-medication among pregnant women.
尽管自我药疗存在潜在的胎儿和母体风险，但在我们这个地区，关于自我药疗行为以及孕期用药安全性的研究却很匮乏。本研究旨在确定孕妇的自我药疗行为及所用药物的安全性。
这项横断面研究通过对塞拉利昂三家医院的345名孕妇进行面对面访谈来开展。使用描述性统计和二元逻辑回归分析数据，以确定自我药疗的患病率及相关因素。
共有345名孕妇参与了本研究。使用传统药物和/或草药进行自我药疗的孕妇患病率为132人（38.3%）。此外，93种（75%）传统药物被归类为可能安全，其中对乙酰氨基酚36种（29.0%）最为常用，其次是阿莫西林23种（18.5%）和抗疟药22种（17.7%），用于治疗常见疾病，如头痛30例（25.4%）、尿路感染23例（19.4%）和疟疾22例（18.6%）。自我药疗最常见的原因是既往有该疾病的经历24例（27.3%）。19种（30.2%）是最常用的草药，水肿30例（47.6%）是报告最多的疾病。在使用草药的人群中，34人（54.0%）认为草药比传统药物更有效。中学教育程度（比值比=2.128，95%置信区间=1.191 - 3.804，P = 0.011）、高等教育程度（比值比=2.915，95%置信区间=1.104 - 7.693，P = 0.031）、月收入高于1000利昂（比值比=4.084，95%置信区间=1.269 - 13.144，P = 0.018）以及感知到的母体疾病（比值比=0.367，置信区间=0.213 - 0.632，P = <0.001）是自我药疗的预测因素。
自我药疗行为非常普遍，且与教育程度、月收入以及孕期感知到的母体疾病有关。因此，应设计并实施干预项目，以尽量减少孕妇自我药疗行为及其相关风险。
