POSTPARTUM MOTHERS’ PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE OF SELF MEDICATION DURING PREGNANCY IN IBADAN SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

Poor health seeking behaviour, especially among the poor, is one of the factors affecting the achievement of the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3), whose target is to improve maternal health. Such poor health seeking behaviours include self-medication practices during pregnancy and non-attendance of antenatal care. Studies have explored practice of self-medication among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics within hospitals, but little has been done in the community to capture women that do not attend antenatal clinics during their pregnancy. This study therefore aimed at investigating the perception and practice of self-medication among postpartum women during pregnancy in Ibadan South West Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State. A community-based descriptive cross-sectional survey design was conducted among 359 consenting women in Ibadan South-West in Ibadan. They were selected using a four-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using pre-tested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the knowledge of the postpartum mothers’ on the safety of drugs that are commonly used during pregnancy using a 34 points scale. Scores of 0-13, 14-23, 24-34 were categorised as poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. Perception of risks associated with self-medication during pregnancy was also asssesd using a 14 points scale. Scores of 0-8 and 9-14 were categorised as negative and positive perception respectively. Similarly, practice of self-medication was assessed using a 22 points scale. Scores of 0-12 and 13-22 were categorized as good and poor practice respectively. The data was analysed with SPSS version 24 using descriptive statistics. Chi Square test was also used to analyse the relationship between the variables with level of significance set at 5%. Mean age of the respondents was 29±3.6 years. Majority (64.9%) of the respondents had completed tertiary education and 43.2% of them were into trading. Almost half (47.1%) of the respondents had good knowledge about the safety of some commonly used drugs in pregnancy, 33.1% had fair knowledge while 19.8% had poor knowledge. Similarly, half (50.7%) of the respondents perceived self-medication during pregnancy to be associated with risks and 59.1% engaged in practice of self-medication extensively during their last pregnancy. A significant relationship was found between attendance of antenatal clinic and practice of self-medication (P-value<0.001). A significant relationship was also found between perception of risks and practice of self-medication (p-value<0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between knowledge and practice of self-medication (p value=0.06). This study revealed that the overall knowledge of safety of drugs used during pregnancy was just on the average. A similar result was obtained for the perception of risks associated with self-medication during pregnancy. The practice of self-medication was however considerably high. Certain factors predispose pregnant women to self-medication. Practice of self-medication was found to be higher in those who did not attend antenatal clinic. Health education and awareness programmes should be carried out in communities to educate women of reproductive age on the risks associated with self-medication in pregnancy and on the need for attendance of antenatal care