Abstract:
Background: Medication in pregnancy particularly in the first trimester is of great concern due to the possible health effect to the mother and the unborn baby. Self-medication practices during pregnancy remains a major problem in low-income countries. During pregnancy, some medication can lead to serious health problems including abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, premature birth, and congenital anomalies. Despite these reported health impacts, yet very few studies assessing self-medication practices during pregnancy exist in Tanzania.
Broad objective: This study assessed the magnitude, types, and factors associated with self-medication practices among pregnant women attending RCH Mbagala Rangitatu Hospital Dar es Salaam.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 383 pregnant women aged 18 years to 45 years attending antenatal clinic at Mbagala Rangitatu Hospital. Face to face interview was done to collect data using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the obtained data. Chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine factors that affected the outcome variable (self-medication practices). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.
Results: The prevalence of self-medication practices among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Mbagala Rangitatu Hospital in Dar es Salaam was 51.4%. The most prevalence practice was done during the first trimester of pregnancy (32.9%). The commonest drug self-medicated was analgesics (39.2%). Factors associated with self-medication practices were a distance of > 1 km to heath facilities AOR 2.871( 95% CI, 1.38-5.97), using cash as a mode of payment method for medical expenses, AOR 2.171( 95% CI, 1.28-5.77),easy access to private retail pharmacyAOR 13.17 ( 95% CI, 7.74-22.39), gravidity AOR 1.890 ( 95% CI, 1.014-3.195)and difficulty in accessing health services AOR 2.36( 95% CI, 1.29-4.38).
Conclusion: More than half of the study participants were self-medicated themselves during the first and second trimester of their pregnancies. The commonest drug self-medicated was analgesics. The determinants for self-medication practices in this study are using cash for medical expenses, staying more than one kilometer to the health facility, and difficultness in accessing health services. Following this higher prevalence intervention should be done to minimize the practice among pregnant women.
