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Medication use during pregnancy in Omani women

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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate medication use pattern in a university tertiary hospital in the Sultanate of Oman. Setting The study was conducted at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and the SQUH Family and Community Medicine clinic (FAMCO), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman during 7th to 25th June 2008. Method The medication use pattern was evaluated in women attending FAMCO and the standard antenatal clinics at the hospital. Women were interviewed in different gestational ages using a structured questionnaire. The Electronic Patient Record (EPR) was reviewed to acquire additional information on medication use. Medications were classified according to the US FDA risk classification. Main outcome measure Medication used including prescribed medications, OTC medications, or herbal treatment during the current pregnancy and 3 months prior to conception. Results The study included a total of 139 pregnant mothers with an overall mean age of 28 ± 5 years ranging from 19 to 45 years. There was a slight overall reduction in the medication use including prescribed medications. However, there was a significant increase in utilization of vitamins and supplements (84–95% vs. 12% in the 3-months prior, P < 0.001) as well as herbal preparations (16–19% vs. 7% in the 3-months prior, P = 0.011) throughout pregnancy (P < 0.010). The use of category A medications increased in all trimester (43–52% vs. 13% in the 3 months prior, P < 0.010) while a reduction in the use of category C (for first and third trimester, P < 0.050) and D medications was seen. A reduction in the use of teratogenic drugs in all trimesters (P < 0.010) was also observed. Conclusion The prescribing of vitamins and minerals was optimal. However, the common use of herbal supplements observed warrants special attention due to their unknown risks. The conclusions should be interpreted in light of the study’s limitations

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the women who participated in the study, to the Pharmacy and the Obstetric/Gynecology departments who provided their support to this study.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacy Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman

    Intisar M. Al-Riyami

  2. Medicine Information Services, Pharmacy Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Intisar Q. Al-Busaidy

  3. Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Ibrahim S. Al-Zakwani

  4. Gulf Health Research, Muscat, Oman

    Ibrahim S. Al-Zakwani

Authors
  1. Intisar M. Al-Riyami
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  2. Intisar Q. Al-Busaidy
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  3. Ibrahim S. Al-Zakwani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Intisar Q. Al-Busaidy.

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Al-Riyami, I.M., Al-Busaidy, I.Q. & Al-Zakwani, I.S. Medication use during pregnancy in Omani women. Int J Clin Pharm 33, 634–641 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-011-9517-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-011-9517-y

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