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Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Study

Authors :
Ceulemans, Eva Gerbier
Guillaume Favre
Fatima Tauqeer
Ursula Winterfeld
Milos Stojanov
Alison Oliver
Anneke Passier
Hedvig Nordeng
Léo Pomar
David Baud
Alice Panchaud
Carla Meyer-Massetti
Michael
Source :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Volume 19; Issue 9; Pages: 5335
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022.

Abstract

Information on medication utilization among pregnant and postpartum women during the pandemic is lacking. We described the prevalence and patterns of self-reported medication use among pregnant and postpartum women during the third wave of the pandemic (June–August 2021). An online questionnaire was distributed in five European countries between June–August 2021. Pregnant women or women who had delivered in the three preceding months, and ≥18 years old, could participate. The prevalence of overall medication use, self-medication, and changes in chronic medication use were determined. A total of 2158 women out of 5210 participants (41.4%) used at least one medication. Analgesics (paracetamol), systemic antihistamines (cetirizine), and drugs for gastric disorders (omeprazole) were the three most used classes. Anti-infectives were less prevalent than during pre-pandemic times. Antidepressants and anxiety related medication use remained similar, despite a higher prevalence of these symptoms. Self-medication was reported in 19.4% of women, and 4.1% of chronic medication users reported that they changed a chronic medication on personal initiative due to the pandemic. In conclusion, medication use patterns in our cohort were mostly similar to those of the first COVID-19 wave and the pre-pandemic period. More studies are needed to explore factors associated with self-medication and changes in chronic medication use due to the pandemic in this perinatal population.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16604601
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Volume 19; Issue 9; Pages: 5335
Accession number :
edsair.multidiscipl..9e6aeae3683ef88c1022bda95724071f
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095335