Investigating self-medication practice among pregnant women in Kuantan, Pahang

• Main Authors: Wan Mohd Azmi, Wan Nursyafiqah, Fata Nahas, Abdul Rahman, Mohd Taufek, Nor Hidayah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: RA Public aspects of medicine
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/76913/1/ABSTRACT%20SCANNED.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/76913/11/ICPRP2019%20programme%20book.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/76913/17/POSTER%20icprp2019%20%282%29.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/76913/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Introduction: Pregnancy has been associated with discomfort and several health issues that may prompt self-medication. Although various reasons and types of self-medication among pregnant women have been reported worldwide, little is known whether this practice is common among pregnant women in Malaysia. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the practice and factors of self-medication among pregnant women in Kuantan, Pahang. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by distributing a validated self-administered questionnaire among pregnant women who attended prenatal check-up at the International Islamic University Malaysia Medical Centre Kuantan, Pahang. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Results: A total of 80 pregnant women participated in the study over a period of five months which accounted for 80% of total sample size. The range for age was 23-45 years and gestational age was 12 – 39 weeks. Most of them had experienced their symptoms such as fever and flu at home but only 32.5% (n=26) practiced self-medication, whereas 67.5% (n=54) did not agree without consulting doctors. Participants took modern medicines (18.75%, n=15), health supplements (76.2%, n=61) and herbal products (5%, n=4). Self-medication was practiced by women who took modern medicines (n=3), health supplements (n=19) and herbal products (n=3). Factors that influenced self-medication were information from the internet (70%), friends (53.75%), articles/books (40%), family members (41.25%) and media (33.75%). Conclusion: Self-medication occurred among pregnant women and involved various types of products. Intervention to improve this practice is required to prevent associated risks of adverse outcomes in pregnancy.