Patterns of Pregnant Anaemic Women's Drug Use

Abstract

Anemia is a prevalent disease among pregnant women in the country. This research aimed to analyze drug usage patterns and improve drug selection for anaemic pregnant women. The study involved 300 pregnant women aged 17-38 in their first to ninth month of pregnancy. Medical records were analyzed, and drug prescriptions were assessed. Of the participants, 176 had iron deficiency anemia, 99 had sickle cell anemia, and 20 had folate deficiency anemia. The rest had vitamin B12 deficiency, hemolytic anemia, or beta-thalassemia. The average number of drugs given per patient was 3-4, with a monthly cost of 920.68 Rs. The most commonly prescribed drugs were vitamin C and multivitamin B complex (MVBC). However, vitamin C is a Category C drug that may be harmful to the fetus, followed by MVBC. The research showed that anaemia was common in the second trimester, with one-third of the patients having sickle cell anaemia. According to the data, vitamin C, calcium, and MVBC were the most commonly prescribed drugs, despite the risks they presented to the fetus according to USFDA criteria. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate drug safety before prescribing them to pregnant women. Overall, this study highlights the importance of careful drug selection to ensure the safety of both the mother and the fetus in anaemic pregnant women.