Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF PREGNANT WOMEN KNOWLEDGE ON MEDICATION

*Dr. C. Gopinath, Principal, Dr. D. Giri Raja Sekhar, G. Suresh, D. Guru Prasad, Dr. M. Madhan Mohan Rao

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess of pregnant women’s knowledge on medications. Methods: It is an observational cross sectional study done for six months. Data was gathered on the basis of questionnaire and interview. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to analyze the results. Results and discussion: Generally, most women believed that physicians prescribes too many medicines (Q7; 66%) and some of pregnant women have only believed that medication using during pregnancy can save the many of unborn lives of children’s (Q3; 31%). All of the pregnant women having poor knowledge (21.6%) regarding the risk of awareness. Most of the pregnant women (70%) have known the use of their prescribed drugs and only (1%) of the people can identify the drugs that should be avoided in pregnancy. Vitamins (63.25%) are the most commonly prescribed drugs during pregnancy. In our study majority of drugs were prescribed from FDA category A (77.3%). Conclusion: Employees have shown the positive beliefs towards the medication when compared to the illiterates. The number of pregnancy can be influential in increase the positive beliefs and risk awareness during pregnancy period. It is the responsibility of all the health care professionals to improve the positive beliefs towards the medications during the pregnancy. Vitamins are the most commonly prescribed drugs & Majority of the drugs is prescribed from the FDA category A.

Keywords: knowledge, medications, beliefs, risk awareness, vitamins, pregnancy.