Practice and knowledge of the dangers of self-medication among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Iganga District (Uganda)

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a common practice among pregnant mothers in many developing countries Uganda inclusive. Despite its adverse effects to the pregnant mother and the developing fetus, limited efforts are in place to reduce the practice. This study was conducted to assess the practices and knowledge of the dangers of self-medication among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Iganga district, Uganda. Methods: A cross sectional approach was employed using convenient sampling technique among 181 pregnant mothers at the antenatal clinic. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data that was analyzed descriptively using SPSS software. Results: Out of the 181 respondents, 119 (65.75%) self-medicated during their current pregnancy obtaining drugs from pharmacies 42 (23.20%). Majority of the mothers 129 (71.27%) had good knowledge concerning the dangers of self-medication with 66.85% reporting that it was a bad practice. Regarding the dangers of self-medication, 23.76% reported fetal death while 24.86% stated miscarriages. There was a significant association between self-medication practice and occupation (P-value = 0.04; OR = 1.21 at 95% CI). Conclusion: Self-medication remains a common practice among pregnant mothers in Iganga district despite the fact that a large proportion of them have good knowledge regarding the dangers of self-medication. Therefore, further investigations into the associated factors and strict measures to combat the risks of self-medication during pregnancy should be embarked on.