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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

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Medication Use among Pregnant Women from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study

Bárbara Heather Lutz1, Vanessa Iribarrem Avena Miranda2, Marysabel Pinto Telis Silveira3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine & Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, Pelotas CEP 96020-220, RS, Brazil.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|February 9, 2020
PubMed

Background: Medication use during pregnancy is a common practice that has been increasing in recent years. The aim of this study is to describe medication use among pregnant women from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Methods: This paper relies on a population-based cohort study including 4270 women. Participants completed a questionnaire about the antenatal period, including information about medication use. We performed descriptive analyses of the sample and the medications used and adjusted analyses for the use of medications and self-medication. Results: The prevalence of medication use was 92.5% (95% CI 91.7-93.3), excluding iron salts, folic acid, vitamins, and other minerals. The prevalence of self-medication was 27.7% (95% CI 26.3-29.1). In the adjusted analysis, women who had three or more health problems during pregnancy demonstrated higher use of medicines. Self-medication was higher in lower income groups and among smokers and multiparous women (three pregnancies or more). Acetaminophen, scopolamine, and dimenhydrinate were the medications most commonly used. Conclusions: This study describes the pattern of drug use among pregnant women in a population-based cohort study, with a high prevalence of self-medication. Greater awareness of the risks of self-medication during pregnancy is required, focusing on groups more prone to this practice, as well as ensuring qualified multidisciplinary prenatal care.

Keywords:
cohort studiesdrug usedrug utilizationpharmaceutical preparationspharmacoepidemiologypregnancyself-medication

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