The prevalence of maternal medication ingestion in the antenatal period

The prevalence of ingestion of medication by pregnant women was recorded in 236 patients attending the antenatal clinics at New Somerset and Peninsula Maternity Hospitals. Patients were interviewed over two periods, 23-26 July and 2-12 December 1991. Of these women, 168 (71.2%) took a total of 283 drugs from 18 different categories. One hundred and forty women (59%) took prescribed and 68 (28.8%) non-prescribed medications. The most commonly used medicines were analgesics, cough and cold medicines, antibiotics, laxatives and antacids. Analgesics that contain aspirin constituted 13.8% of self-administered medicines and 2% of prescribed medicines. The most common sources of non-prescribed medication were pharmacies (60%), followed by supermarkets (32.5%). One hundred and sixty-two women (68.6%) received no advice on medication during their pregnancy. Of those who received advice, formal sources (doctor/nurse/pharmacist/midwife) accounted for 56.8% and informal sources (family/friends/magazines) for 43.3% of advice; 59.7% of women did not know that certain medicines are unsafe during pregnancy. Our data indicate that pregnant women in Cape Town take a large number of medicines, often without being aware of the potential adverse effects. This study shows the need for education in this regard, especially at antenatal clinics, pharmacies and supermarkets.