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

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Gerbier, Eva Favre, Guillaume Tauqeer, Fatima Winterfeld, Ursula Stojanov, Milos Oliver, Alison Passier, Anneke Nordeng, Hedvig Pomar, Léo Baud, David Panchaud, Alice Meyer-Massetti, Carla Ceulemans, Michael
Editor	Tchounwou, Paul B.
Copyright Year	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.
ISSN	16617827
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [Int J Environ Res Public Health]
Volume Number	19
DOI	10.3390/ijerph19095335
PubMed Central reference number	PMC9100043
Issue Number	9
PubMed reference number	35564733
e-ISSN	16604601
Language	English
Publisher	Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
Publisher Date	2022-04-27
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	pregnancy postpartum pharmacoepidemiology drug utilization medication use self-medication chronic disease COVID-19 pandemic Europe
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Pollution Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health