Self-medication among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Iringa regional referral hospital.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Self-medication, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), refers to the independent use of medications by individuals without seeking medical guidance. In communities with limited resources, self-medication during pregnancy poses significant concerns, leading to issues such as abortion, stillbirths, low birth weight, premature birth, congenital defects, and drug resistance. Despite its prevalence, little is known about the motivation for self-medication in this population. Objective: The study aimed at exploring reasons for self-medication among pregnant women attending ANC at Iringa Region Referral Hospital. Methodology: The study used a phenomenological qualitative study design with a purposeful sample of pregnant women attended Antenatal care clinic (ANC) at Iringa Regional Referral Hospital from September 2023 to October 2023. Four focus group discussions were conducted. The discussions were guided using an interview guide and were audio recorded with field notes taken. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes were developed as drivers of self-medication among women based on the data: environmental and personal factors. Environmental factors encompass community culture and family experiences, receiving guidance from a respected family member, long wait times at health facilities, living far from health facilities, and easy access to medication in the community. Personal factors include positive outcomes following self-medication, lack of time to seek care, lack of awareness of medication prescription laws, medication costs, pregnancy related diseases and conditions, urgency, and time sensitivity. Conclusion Easy access to prescribed medication when a pregnant woman has many responsibilities, advice from the peer group of their fellow pregnant women, and advice from respected family members or friends, played a significant role in self-medication practices.