A Prospective Observational Study on Understanding and Awareness in Pregnant women with Comorbid conditions in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
Background Information: Drugs play an important role in improving human health and promoting well-being. However, to produce the desired effect, they have to be safe, efficacious and have to be used rationally. In general, drugs unless absolutely necessary should not be used during pregnancy because drugs taken by a pregnant woman can reach the foetus and harm it by crossing the placenta, the same route taken by oxygen and nutrients, which are needed for the growth and development of foetus. Methodology: A Prospective Observational study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Malla Reddy College of Pharmacy from November 2019 to April 2020. Approximately 350 patients are to be considered from the department of OBG who were pregnant and diagnosed with medical complications (Thyroid dysfunction, Hypertension and Diabetes). The data collected in the case collection form was then analysed using Ms-Excel and statistical interpretation was done to decipher the objective analysis. Results: The findings suggest that a total of 20% of people are literates but 80% of them are illiterates. Also, among the patients, 25% of them attended 3 antenatal visits or less, 66% attended 3 to 5 times to the antenatal ward for regular check-up and 14 % of them attended more than 5 times. Lastly, illiterate women are found to be more compliant and adherent to the medications (91%) whereas the literate women have low scores on adherence and compliance (55%). Conclusion: Observations from the present study and the interpreted results through the discussion concludes that there is more need and emphasis on education of women during pregnancy. Education about drug utilisation, self-medication practices and appropriate usage of drugs during pregnancy is necessary for overall wellbeing of maternal health and the foetus. The need for education and counselling is even more among the illiterate women and those who belong to lower socio-economic class.
Swetha Bejugam*, Prashanth Boya, Thutupalli Seetha Maha Lakshmi, and Bheema Sai Suyagna
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