{"title":"Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice on self-care with over-the-counter medicines among pregnant women","authors":"Kavindya Nirmani , Chanidi Danthanarayana , P.M. Thilini Nisansala , Jeniffer Michael , Achala Shyamali , Jayani Dunukara , Mohammed Dauda Goni , Thilini Nisansala","doi":"10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100413","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Self-care during pregnancy is a crucial topic to be discussed due to its effects on both the mother and fetus. In Sri Lanka, specifically regarding self-care with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, usage among the pregnant population is scarce.</p></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><p>This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on self-care with OTC medicine usage among pregnant women attending maternity clinics in the Colombo Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas, Sri Lanka.</p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 pregnant women enrolled through simple random sampling using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and sociodemographic characteristics. SPSS version 27 was used for descriptive statistical analysis.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>There were satisfactory levels of KAP on self-care with OTC medicines identified among participants. The Mean ± SD for knowledge was 4.38 ± 0.873, and for attitude and practice, 27.56 ± 3.752 and 20.35 ± 4.235, respectively. Significant positive linear correlation between knowledge and attitude (<em>r</em> = 0.375, <em>p</em> < 0.001), attitude and practice (<em>r</em> = 0.518, p < 0.001), and knowledge and practice (<em>r</em> = 0.224, p < 0.001) were observed. It refers to participants with higher levels of knowledge being more likely to exhibit certain attitudes and engage in good practice regarding self-care. However, 93% of the participants had a wrong intention that any medicine could be used at any stage of pregnancy, and 26.3% of the participants didn't know that the medications taken during pregnancy could impact the fetus. Surprisingly, 87% had misperceived that antibiotics can be purchased as OTC medicines. Additionally, the majority of the participants (96%) believed that they could use old prescriptions to purchase medicines during pregnancy.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Greater awareness regarding self-care with OTC medication usage is suggested to be provided during pregnancy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":73003,"journal":{"name":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276624000088/pdfft?md5=91da2958457e73b5d4c05983cb478248&pid=1-s2.0-S2667276624000088-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276624000088","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Self-care during pregnancy is a crucial topic to be discussed due to its effects on both the mother and fetus. In Sri Lanka, specifically regarding self-care with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, usage among the pregnant population is scarce.
Objective
This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on self-care with OTC medicine usage among pregnant women attending maternity clinics in the Colombo Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas, Sri Lanka.
Method
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 pregnant women enrolled through simple random sampling using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and sociodemographic characteristics. SPSS version 27 was used for descriptive statistical analysis.
Results
There were satisfactory levels of KAP on self-care with OTC medicines identified among participants. The Mean ± SD for knowledge was 4.38 ± 0.873, and for attitude and practice, 27.56 ± 3.752 and 20.35 ± 4.235, respectively. Significant positive linear correlation between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.375, p < 0.001), attitude and practice (r = 0.518, p < 0.001), and knowledge and practice (r = 0.224, p < 0.001) were observed. It refers to participants with higher levels of knowledge being more likely to exhibit certain attitudes and engage in good practice regarding self-care. However, 93% of the participants had a wrong intention that any medicine could be used at any stage of pregnancy, and 26.3% of the participants didn't know that the medications taken during pregnancy could impact the fetus. Surprisingly, 87% had misperceived that antibiotics can be purchased as OTC medicines. Additionally, the majority of the participants (96%) believed that they could use old prescriptions to purchase medicines during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Greater awareness regarding self-care with OTC medication usage is suggested to be provided during pregnancy.