What do pregnant women know about harmful effects of medication and herbal remedies use during pregnancy?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was assasment of women's knowledge and awareness on medication and herbal remedies use during pregnancy.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University Clinical Hospital Mostar. The study included 230 parturients (primipara) and 20 pharmacists who work in pharmacies of Mostar. Collected and analyzed data was based on a questionnaire of 25 questions.

RESULTS: Out of total number of respondents (N =230), 159 of them (69.1%) used some vitamin or mineral product, 44.8% of respondents had problems with morning sickness and vomiting, but they did not use any medication in pregnancy. Higher educated respondents used folic acid more often (p=0.005), they knew the benefits of using folic acid (p<0.001) and magnesium during pregnancy (p=0.002) and they were familiar with harmful effect of alcohol and cigarettes consumption during pregnancy (p=0.005) so as with harmful effect of excessive quantity of vitamin A (p=0.037), they were more familiar with harmful effect of herbal remedies and at least one harmful herb compared to less educated respondents (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: There is lack of knowledge and unawareness on harmful effect of medication use and herbal remedies during pregnancy.