Risks versus benefits of medication use during pregnancy: what do women perceive?

Figures & data

Table 1 Questions and scales on which concerns related to medication use, probability, severity, and benefits were rated

Items	Questions	Scale
Concerns	To what extent are you concerned that there is an increased probability that this event occurs as a result of medication use?	1= never concerned, 2= sometimes concerned, 3= neutral, 4= often concerned, and 5= always concerned
Probability	How likely do you think an accident or unfortunate event involving this drug occurs?	1= very unlikely; 7= very likely
Severity	If an accident or unfortunate event involving this drug occurred, to what extent are the harmful effects for the baby and/or mother?	1= very mild harm; 7= very serious harm
Benefits	How beneficial do you consider this drug or item to be for pregnant women and their babies?	1= not at all beneficial; 7= very beneficial

Table 2 General characteristics of study population (N=136)

Characteristics	Number (%)
Mean age ± SD (years)	30.8±5.0
Marital status: married/cohabiting	126 (92.6)
Duration of pregnancy*
First trimester	16 (13.8)
Second trimester	36 (31.0)
Third trimester	64 (55.2)
Nulliparity	39 (28.7)
Previous miscarriages	41 (30.1)
Presence of birth defects in first-degree family	26 (19.1)
Education
Low level of education	21 (15.4)
Medium level of education	53 (39.0)
High level of education	62 (45.6)
Working status
Not working in health care sector	78 (57.4)
Working in health care sector	31 (22.8)
Not working	27 (19.9)
Attended
First-line care facility	24 (17.6)
Second-line care facility	111 (81.6)
Smoking during pregnancy	15 (11.0)
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy	0 (0.0)

Note:

* Information on trimester of pregnancy is missing for 2 respondents.

Table 3 Reported medication use during pregnancy (N=136)

Type of medication	Total (%)*	On prescription (%)	OTC (%)
Total	97 (82.2)	66 (48.5)	69 (58.5)
Paracetamol	49 (41.5)	11 (8.1)	41 (34.7)
Vitamins other than folic acid and vitamin D	25 (21.2)	0	25 (21.2)
Acid-suppressive medication	30 (25.4)	10 (7.4)	21 (17.8)
Antacids	24 (20.3)	4 (2.9)	21 (17.8)
H2-antagonists/PPIs	6 (4.4)	6 (4.4)	0
Antibiotics	11 (8.1)	11 (8.1)	0
NSAIDs	1 (0.7)	1 (0.7)	0 (0.0)
Antifungal medication	7 (5.1)	7 (5.1)	1 (0.8)
Antidepressants	5 (4.2)	5 (4.2)	0
Cardiovascular medication	8 (5.9)	8 (5.9)	0
Anti-diabetes medication	4 (2.9)	4 (2.9)	0
Anti-allergy medication**	6 (4.4)	6 (4.4)	0
Laxatives	6 (4.4)	6 (4.4)	0
Iron supplementation	10 (8.5)	10 (8.5)	0
Thyrax	9 (7.6)	9 (7.6)	0
Anti-cold medication	10 (8.5)	0	10 (8.5)
Other	22 (16.2)	15 (11.0)	10 (7.4)

Notes:

* Women could have used both on prescription and OTC medication; hence, the number for total medication use is lower than the sum of on prescription and OTC medication use.

** This group contains medication for the treatment of eczema, asthma, or hay fever.

Abbreviations: OTC, over the counter; PPIs, proton pump inhibitors; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; H2, histamine 2.

Figure 1 Percentage of women who were either often or always concerned about different outcomes due to medication use during pregnancy.

Figure 2 Means of the perceived risk and perceived benefits of different medication groups during pregnancy.

Abbreviations: NVP, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy; H2A/PPI, histamine-2 antagonist/proton pump inhibitor; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.