European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DRUG USAGE IN PREGNANCY IN AN OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN BIHAR

Kirti Bala, Nikhil Era*, Shatavisa Mukherjee and Sushanta Kumar Bordolai

ABSTRACT

Background: Avoidance of pharmacological treatment in pregnancy is unrealistic. With limited safety information on drugs used in pregnancy in specific populations, drug utilisation research provides a robust source of population glimpse. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the drugs utilisation pattern and practice during pregnancy in woman attending ante natal (ANC) clinic in a tertiary care institution set-up in eastern India. Methodology: A prospective, observational study was carried out for a period of one year in which all prescriptions were studied for all patients attending ANC in any trimesters and then categorized trimester wise to assess the prescribing frequency of each drugs in an individual trimester. Basic demographic details including age, gravid, history of abortion, time for first ANC seeking, total ANC sought were noted. Drug usage including type, dosage, duration of use and pregnancy risk categorization were noted. Prescribing practices were assessed using WHO Drug prescribing indicators. Results: Of total 368 pregnant women, 50.81% participants were of primigravida and 29.89% had positive history of abortion. Time for seeking the first antenatal check-up was majorly in 1st trimester with majority having more than 5 antenatal checkups. A total of 3054 drugs were prescribed in all three trimesters from all organ systems of which majority belonged to blood and bone forming agents, followed by antimicrobials and gastrointestinal drugs. During the entire study period, there were 177 prescriptions for 1st trimester, 306 prescriptions for 2nd trimester and 366 prescriptions for 3rd trimester. Conclusion: Knowledge of the potential danger of medication use during pregnancy, and recognition of the fact that important clinician understanding is still lacking and should warrant conservative use of medication. Rational and judicious practice will ultimately help in further improvement of the health status of the mother and her offspring.

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