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. 2023 Feb 18;9(3):e13833.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13833. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Self-medication practice among pregnant women in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: An institutionally based cross-sectional study

Temesgen Leka Lerango  1 , Amsalu Alagaw  2 , Abayneh Tunje  2 , Eshetu Andarge  2   3 , Bereket Duko  4   5 , Asres Bedaso Tilahune  6 , Semalgn Leka Lerango  7
Affiliations

Self-medication practice among pregnant women in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: An institutionally based cross-sectional study

Temesgen Leka Lerango et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a treatment based on symptoms without prescription and medical consultation. Despite being one of the critical practices that impose a harmful effect on the fetus and the woman herself, evidence on its practice and associated factors are not well-documented. This study, therefore, assessed the self-medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: An institutionally based cross-sectional study was conducted at public health institutions in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia by recruiting a total of 408 pregnant women using a systematic random sampling technique between March 2019 and April 2019. We used the Antenatal care (ANC) registry as a sampling frame. A pre-tested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire used to depict Self-medication practice and associated factors. Data entered using Epi-data and analyzed by SPSS 23.0.

Results: The overall prevalence of self-medication was 14.9% (95% CI:11-18). The odds of using self-medication may decreased by 75% for women who were in their third trimester (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.64). However, the odds of practicing increased by 13-folds among pregnant women reported earlier (previous) self-medication experience (AOR = 13.62, 95% CI: 6.66-27.84).

Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication was high in the current study setting. Women's gestational period (third trimester) and earlier self-medication experience were associated with their current self-medication practice.

Keywords: ANC, Antenatal Care; AOR, Adjusted Odds Ratio; CHI, Community-Based Health Insurance; CI, Confidence Interval; COR, Crude Odds Ratio; Cross-sectional; EFDA, Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority; ETB, Ethiopian Birr; HC, Health Center; HDA, Health (Women) Development Army; HMIS, Health ManagementInformation System; OTC, Over-The-Counter Medicines; PH, Primary Hospital; POM, Prescription-Only-Medicines; Pregnant women; SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region; Self-medication; Southern Ethiopia; WHO, World Health Organization; Wolaita.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sources of information for self-medication among pregnant women attending ANC at public health facilities in Wolaita Zone, Mar. 11 – Apr. 26, 2019 (n = 59).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Class of drugs used for self-medication among pregnant women attending ANC at public health facilities in Wolaita Zone, Mar. 11 – Apr. 26, 2019 (n = 59).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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