Over-the-Counter Pain Medication Use During Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pharmacology
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication use during pregnancy is common.
• Understanding usage patterns is vital for maternal and fetal health.
• Specific risks associated with certain pain relievers during pregnancy necessitate careful consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and patterns of OTC pain reliever consumption among pregnant women in Iowa.
• To analyze OTC pain medication use based on demographic factors such as race/ethnicity and education level.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the 2019 Iowa Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data.
• A weighted sample of 759 pregnant women was used, representing 31,728 Iowa mothers.
• Descriptive statistics were employed to examine OTC pain reliever usage across different demographic groups.

Main Results:

• 76% of pregnant women reported using OTC pain relievers.
• Acetaminophen was the most frequently used (71%), followed by ibuprofen (11%), aspirin (8%), and naproxen (3%).
• Non-Hispanic White mothers (80%) and those with higher education (84%) reported higher usage compared to Hispanic mothers (64%) and those with less education (64%).

Conclusions:

• Significant utilization of OTC pain relievers exists among pregnant women.
• Disparities in usage were observed across racial/ethnic and educational backgrounds.
• Enhanced patient education regarding the potential fetal risks of pain medication use throughout pregnancy is recommended.