Abstract:

Objective: Medication use during pregnancy is a major concern for most women. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness of contraindicated drugs in pregnancy among pregnant women attending antenatal at Bugando medical centre in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Methods: This was cross-sectional hospital based study included 258 pregnant women, attended antenatal clinic at Bugando medical centre in Mwanza, Tanzania. Data was collected by means of semi-structured questionnaire, the questions based on their socio-demographic background, awareness on contraindicated (names and effects) and sources of drug information about contraindicated drugs in pregnancy.

Results/discussion: 44.8% participants were in the age group of 20-29 years. 193 (74.9%) had attained secondary school education. More than 186 (72.1%) of the pregnant women were aware there some that are contraindicated during the pregnancy. 156 (60.23%) of the pregnant women were able to mention at least one name of contraindicated drugs during the pregnancy. Out of those able to at least one name of contraindicated drugs during the pregnancy, 34.64% mentioned metronidazole as contraindicated drug in pregnancy, followed by Ciprofloxacin 16.79%. About 198 (63.95%) of pregnant women obtain their medications related information from health professional (pharmacists, physicians).

Conclusion: There is a good awareness among the pregnant women regarding to the effects of the contraindicated drugs in pregnancy on the health of the fetus. More than half of the pregnant women abled to mentioned different names of the contraindicated drugs in pregnancy. Most of the pregnant women obtained the drugs related information from health professionals (pharmacists and physicians).