ABSTRACT
Background: Pregnancy is a special physiological condition where drug treatment presents a special concern. The rationale for use of drugs during pregnancy requires a careful assessment as in addition to the mother, the health and life of her unborn child also concerns. Research Question: What is the pattern of drug utilization during pregnancy in females of field practice area of Urban Health Centre? Aim: To study the drug utilization pattern during pregnancy. Methodology: 500 pregnant women included in study. A house to house survey was conducted during September 2009 to February 2010. Various study parameters like; educational status, duration of pregnancy, family income per capita per month, number of antenatal visits, self medication practices, number of drugs used, number of herbal/homeopathic drugs used included the study. Results: A total of 972, 864 and 399 drugs, with an average of 6.61, 3.66, 3.41 drugs per pregnant woman were used during first, second and third trimester of pregnancy respectively. Category A is considered the safest category while category X is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. A majority of drugs used, were from category A, followed by category B and category D. However, category C and X drugs constituted 4.28 and 0.51% of the drugs used during the third trimester and first trimester, respectively. Herbal/ homeopathic drugs constituted 10.49% (102), 4.86% (42) and 1.94% (5) of the drugs used during first, second and third trimester of pregnancy respectively. It was found that self-medication and homeopathic/ herbal drugs were used more in illiterates, than in literates (p <0.001 and <0.001 respectively). Conclusion: There is a need to educate and counsel the women of child bearing age, regarding the advantages and disadvantages of drug use during pregnancies.