[Prescribed and reported drug use during pregnancy]

Area of Science:

• Pharmacovigilance
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health

Context:

• Limited data exists on drug utilization during pregnancy and labor, particularly concerning prescribing practices across different healthcare sectors.
• This research is part of a broader survey on perinatal care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• The study stratified 10,072 hospitalized postpartum women by hospital type (public, contracted, private) to analyze medication use.

Purpose:

• To investigate and compare drug utilization patterns during pregnancy and labor across public and private healthcare facilities in Rio de Janeiro.
• To identify the most frequently prescribed and self-reported medications during pregnancy and labor.
• To assess differences in prescribing practices between healthcare strata.

Summary:

• A mean of 2.3 drugs were self-reported for use during pregnancy and 2.08 drugs were prescribed during labor among 10,072 postpartum women.
• Anesthetics, antibiotics, oxytocin, and analgesics were most common during labor, while ferrous sulfate, vitamins, scopolamine, and acetaminophen were frequent during pregnancy.
• Significant variations in drug use were observed between public, contracted, and private hospital settings. Women reporting abortion attempts used teas and misoprostol.
• Drug utilization patterns align with existing literature, providing insights into both prescribed and self-reported medication use.

Impact:

• Provides crucial data on medication prescribing during labor and self-reported use during pregnancy in diverse healthcare settings.
• Highlights significant differences in drug utilization patterns between public and private healthcare sectors in Rio de Janeiro.
• Informs public health policies and clinical practice guidelines related to safe medication use in pregnancy and childbirth.