Prevalence of benzodiazepines use during pregnancy in Lebanon

Pregnancy is a period of heightened risk period for many psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety disorders. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the usage of psychotropic medications during pregnancy. Over the past decade there has been a notable increase in the use of medications during pregnancy, with benzodiazepines being the primary choice for alleviating anxiety. It is important to note, though, that benzodiazepines have been associated with various risks for both pregnancy and newborns. In Lebanon, to date, there has been no study estimating the prevalence of the use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy. Our study aims to find the prevalence of benzodiazepines use in a population of pregnant women in Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, a tertiary care center in Beirut, and the medical center of Saint-Joseph University and to compare our results to international literature. To accomplish our objectives we administered questionnaires to over two hundred women who had recently given birth in the gynecology department. These forms encompassed inquiries about benzodiazepine consumption, as well as various medical and socio demographic details. In total, we interviewed 225 women who gave birth at the Hôtel-Dieu de France between the months of December 2019 and February 2020 and between the months of February 2021 and October 2021 in the gynecology department. The questionnaires included socio demographic, medical, and psychiatric information as well as questions about the use of benzodiazepines. We found a significantly lower prevalence of benzodiazepine use among these women compared to the figures reported in international literature. The approval of the ethics committee was obtained on December 19, 2019 after making sure that this study raised no ethical objections. (File number: CEHDF 1533).