Prevalence and Potential Risks Associated with Utilization of Medication During Pregnancy- A Cross-Sectional Study

Medication usage during pregnancy is increasing twofold, and it should be considered a public health issue due to increasing complications associated with medication. Data on prescribed and self-prescribed medication among Sudani females is limited. Hence, this study aims to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of drug usage among Sudanese females, including prescribed medication and self-prescribed medication, who are registered in tertiary care facilities. A cross-sectional descriptive study was planned in the hospital setting at Omdurman Maternity Center, Sudan. Data were collected between January 2023 and February 2023 through semi-structured interviews. The sample comprised 878 pregnant females and was divided into two groups: 453 females on medication and 425 females not on medication. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and statistical significance was set at 0.05. The result of this study shows that 51.1% of females were on medication, of which 14.1% were on self-medication. The maximum drugs taken were antibiotics, followed by diabetic and hypertensive medication. Data showed a statistically significant relationship between medicine usage and chronic medical conditions (p<0.001). However, no significant association was reported between medicine usage, body mass index, gravidity, maternal age, and education. The prevalence of medicine usage among Sudani women is high. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing the initiatives undertaken by healthcare professionals, particularly in the prenatal setting, to ensure the appropriate management of medication usage during pregnancy, thereby reducing the risk of potential complications for both the mother and the fetus.