Self-medication among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-natal Clinics in Jos-North, Nigeria

Background: Self-medication in pregnancy is a great risk irrespective of consumer’s perceived knowledge about the safety of the medicine or previous use history.

Aims: This study examined the extent of self-medication and its determinants among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey of pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics.

Methods: Pre-tested structured questionnaire was employed to assess the perception, attitude, practices and views of respondents. We selected respondents in an alternate pattern; 350 respondents attending ante-natal clinics at two tertiary hospitals and a primary health care centre in Jos, Nigeria were recruited. We approached respondents with the questionnaires during ante-natal clinics; this was repeated consecutively for six weeks between November 5th, 2014 and December 21st, 2015.

Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 was used for analysis. Results were presented in descriptive and inferential statistics. P-value < .05 was considered statistically significant for association.

Results: Self-medication was prevalent in 62.9% of pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics. Over one-tenth (11.8%) self-medicated with herbal medicine while 6.6% used conventional and herbal medicines concomitantly in the current pregnancy. Majority (87.6%) of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge about medicine safety issues, yet self-medication practice was high. Having foreknowledge about the condition and its management (31.4%), a history of previous treatment (26.3%) and attitude towards the use of medicine for minor ailments (21.9%) were the major facilitators of self-medication in pregnancy.

Conclusion: Self-medication in pregnancy is considerably high (62.9%). Women probably perceived minor ailment requires mild medication purportedly considered safe in pregnancy. Self-medication in pregnancy increases as knowledge and awareness about the harmful effects of medicine increases, though this interaction is statistically insignificant.