Prevalence of Self-Medication Among Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher



Rahmani A¹ ; Hamanajm SA² ; Fallahi A³ ; Gheshlagh RG^{4, 5} ; Dalvand S⁶
Source: Nursing and Midwifery Studies Published:2019

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is prevalent among pregnant women. It can cause adverse effects such as fetal anomalies. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-medication among Iranian pregnant women. Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Online national and international databases (namely, Scientific Information Database, MagIran, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched using the following keywords: 'pregnancy,' 'gravidity,' 'self-treatment,' 'self-medication,' 'non-prescription,' 'over-the-counter,' 'self-administered,' 'self-reported,' 'Iran,' 'prevalence,' 'occurrence,' 'frequency,' and 'epidemiology.' In total, 128 studies were retrieved. Only 13 studies fulfilled eligibility criteria, i.e. cross-sectional design and publication in Persian or English. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed using a tool with four items, namely design, sample description, sample size, and methods. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model and heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I2 index. Results: The total number of samples in the 13 analyzed studies was 4874. The overall self-medication prevalence was 38.46% (95% confidence interval: 27.42-49.49). Meta-regression analysis revealed no significant relationships between self-medication prevalence and methodological quality score (P = 0.409), participants' mean age (P = 0.400), sample size (P = 0.248), and publication year (P = 0.704). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of self-medication among Iranian pregnant women is 38.46%. Study findings can be used to design and implement interventions to reduce self-medication among pregnant women. Educational interventions are needed to improve the knowledge of pregnant women and health-care providers about the effects of self-medication, particularly herbal self-medication. © 2019 Nursing and Midwifery Studies | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.