Drug Prescription Pattern in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Out Patient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Aims: Pregnant women requiring medication represent a challenge to healthcare providers to avoid any teratogenic risk to fetus. The purpose of this study was to provide information about the drug use among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital, Mumbai, India.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Pharmacology, Seth GSMC & KEM Hospital, between July 2011 and December 2011.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted by reviewing the antenatal care Outpatient department case papers of 760 random pregnant women. Demographic profile, detailed medical history and drug intake in current pregnancy was noted. The prescription pattern was assessed and the drugs were classified based on the US FDA Risk Classification.
Results: Out of 760 women, one third (33.18%) women were anemic. Majority drugs were prescribed for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection, vaginal discharge, fever with chills, nausea and vomiting. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.27. Only 4% drugs were prescribed by their brand name and 96 % by generic name. Iron, folic acid and calcium were prescribed to all pregnant women. Majority of the patients were prescribed Category A and B drugs. No patient was given Category X drugs.
Conclusion: Findings of our study showed that all pregnant women were provided with prophylactic iron and folic acid therapy. The occurrence of contraindicated medicines was desirably low, thereby minimizing overall risk to developing fetus. Thus prescribing pattern observed in our study sets a good example, as selection of drugs was rational in most of the cases.