Journal of Bioanalysis & Biomedicine

Background: Self-medication is one element of self-care in which individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms did the selection and use of medicines. Pregnant women’s practice self-medication to treat a number of medical conditions. However, self-medication in pregnant women’s leads to potential drug adverse reaction. Higher risks were reported if women were in their first trimesters of pregnancy.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of self-medication and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nekemte Referral Hospital.

Methodology: A Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nekemte Referral hospital from May to June 2018. Semi-structured interviewer questionnaire was used to collect data from each study subjects. SPSS version 21 software was used to categorize and analyze data. Association is significant at p-value less than 0.05.

Results: In this study, 195 pregnant mothers were participated. The respondents’ age range from 21 to 45 years and their mean age was 30.4+3.45 years. Self-medication practice among pregnant women was 21.5% with the most common self-medicated drugs were paracetamol 19 (45.2%) and amoxicillin 12 (28.6%). Respondents aged between 20 to 30 years (AOR=0.108, 95% CI: 0.012-0.952) and 31 to 40 years (AOR= 0.078, 95% CI: 0.009-0.698) were less likely to practice self-medication than those above 40 years old respondent. Farmer pregnant women were less likely (AOR=0.881, 95% CI: 0.006-1.099) to use self-medication than students.

Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication was 21.5% among respondents. Pregnant women with age group of 31 to 40 years and farmers had less likely to practice self-medication.