Recours à l'automédication chez la femme enceinte : étude descriptive

Abstract

Introduction: Self-medication refers to the use of medications without prior medical consultation. Although perceived as a quick and cost-effective solution, it exposes both the mother and fetus to risks, including fetal toxicity, congenital malformations, and other perinatal complications. In this context, this descriptive study aimed to determine the prevalence of selfmedication during pregnancy, identify the motivations behind it, characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of the women involved, and list the conditions prompting self-medication as well as the classes of medications used. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 200 pregnant women attending consultations at three healthcare facilities: the Mother and Child Specialized Hospital of Sétif, the Maternity Specialized Hospital of Bordj Bou Arreridj, and the Public Hospital of Mila. The participants completed an anonymous and structured questionnaire covering demographic data, clinical history, medication use habits, and reasons for resorting to self-medication. Results and Discussion: Analysis of the responses revealed that 37% of the women reported using self-medication during pregnancy. Among them, 40.28% justified this practice based on previous experience. Furthermore, 16.67% cited lack of time due to the pace of modern life, and 11.80% mentioned economic reasons to reduce medical expenses. Lastly, 11% used selfmedication quickly relieve persistent symptoms. Regarding conditions treated, headaches were the most common (33.33%), followed by nausea and vomiting (18.71%), abdominal bloating and spasms (18.13%), and fever-associated pain (16.37%). Analgesics and antipyretics were the most commonly used medications, followed by antacids and antiemetics. From a sociodemographic perspective, self-medication was more frequently observed among multiparous women aged 30 to 40 (58.1%), mainly belonging to the middle class. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to strengthen awareness and therapeutic education for pregnant women and to improve access to reliable medical information. Stricter regulation of medication use during pregnancy is essential to reduce risks and ensure better maternal-fetal safety.