A cross- sectional study to assess medication safety, knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding nutrition and medication among pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: To assess pregnant women's knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding nutrition and medication usage, analyse the prescribing pattern, and categorize them based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 264 pregnant women in the obstetrics and gynaecology department of a tertiary care hospital from October 2022 to August 2023. A knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire was prepared in English language by the researchers and validated by an expert panel consisting of 12 members. The validated questionnaire was then translated into regional languages, Kannada and Malayalam. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with test-retest method with a representative sample population of 30 subjects (10 subjects for each language). The subjects' knowledge, attitude, and practice were evaluated using the validated KAP questionnaire. The safety of the medication was assessed using the FDA drug safety classification for pregnancy.

Results: The mean scores for nutritional and medication usage knowledge, attitude, and practice were 4.14±1.15, 4.50±1.09, and 3.00±1.47, respectively. Among 30 prescribed medications, 3 belong to category A (no risk in human studies), 8 belong to category B (no risk in animal studies), 18 belong to category C (risk cannot be ruled out) and 1 drug is not classified. A significant association was observed between medication knowledge and practice (r=0.159, P=0.010).

Conclusions: Most of the study population knows the need to maintain good dietary and medication practices during pregnancy. Counselling pregnant women regarding diet and medication usage is crucial in maternal care.

Keywords

Pregnancy / Nutrition / Medication / Knowledge / Practice / Safe medication

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Funding

The study received no funding from any internal or external sources.

Authors’ contributions

Gauthami R, Bipin Shaji, Juno Jerold Joel and Krishnapriya Radhakrishnan provided the concept of the research study. Gauthami R collected the data. Reshma Kolar analysed the data. Bipin Shaji and Twinkle MJS interpreted the data. Gauthami R, Bipin Shaji and Twinkle MJS prepared the manuscript. Juno Jerold Joel and Krishnapriya Radhakrishnan reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Publisher’s Note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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