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Risk perception of medication and natural product use among pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in India
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Devanshi Ramesh   , Apexa Shukla *  , Preksha Barot , Nitya Chahuan , Darshan Dave |
| Department of Pharmacology, GMERS Medical College, Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India , pexashelly@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (1544 Views) |
Background: Pregnant women often use medications and natural products, assuming natural products are safe. However, both can carry risks, and many natural products lack proven safety during pregnancy. This study aims to assess pregnant women’s risk perception and attitudes toward these products at a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled pregnant women attending the antenatal unit of a tertiary care hospital over a two-month period. Data were collected from 161 women, regardless of gestational age, using a pretested questionnaire to assess relevant factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, and information sources.
Results: Among the participants, 61.49% were between 18 and 25 years old, with a mean age of 28.69 ± 7.38 years. A total of 88 participants (54.65%) were in their third trimester. Notably, 98.75% of the pregnant women were educated, yet 78.26% lacked knowledge about the critical timing for drug use during pregnancy. Additionally, only 6.8% considered paracetamol safe, while most viewed other analgesics and antibiotics as harmful. A significant proportion of pregnant women (92.6% and 89.05%) believed that papaya and pineapple, respectively, were harmful products to avoid during pregnancy. The risk assessment for fetal harm was low in 76.39% of participants, with an average attitude score of 15.36 (SD ± 2.14) on a scale of 5 to 20. Consequently, 90.06% of participants were categorized as having a positive attitude towards medication.
Conclusion: The results indicate that a significant percentage of women had a positive attitude towards medication. However, their risk perception regarding medication use was disappointingly low. It is critical to implement targeted educational interventions to improve health literacy and address cultural misconceptions to ensure safe medication and natural product use during pregnancy. |
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| Keywords: Cultural Beliefs, Health Literacy, Herbal Supplements, Maternal Attitudes, Risk Perception, Natural Health Products, Pregnancy, Prescription Medications |
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Full-Text [PDF 752 kb]
(575 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Received: 2025/03/5 | Accepted: 2025/06/20 | Published: 2025/06/29
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