Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Drugs and Cosmetic Use among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic of a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Inappropriate use of drugs and certain cosmetics can cause potential harm to the mother as well as the fetus. Good knowledge about drug use can help pregnant women make informed decisions. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude among pregnant women regarding the usage of drugs and cosmetics during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the antenatal clinic of a tertiary care centre from August to November 2018 in 384 randomly selected pregnant women. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Around 51.56% of pregnant women believed that drugs may have an effect on them or the fetus and 11.19% believed the same for cosmetics. More than half of them feel that drugs should mainly be avoided in the third trimester. Around 25% of women believed that the irrational use of drugs could cause congenital anomalies in the fetus. About 58.07% of women were of the opinion that pregnancy requires the consumption of many drugs and 34.11% preferred to use alternative medicine during pregnancy. The primary source of information in majority of women was doctors followed by media. Around 32.03% of women had taken drugs outside a doctor’s prescription during their pregnancy. A decrease in cosmetic use was reported by 4.94% women. Conclusion: The knowledge regarding the correct use of drugs and cosmetics during pregnancy is poor. The use of non-prescribed medications is high. Educational programs for women to increase their knowledge of the potential risks to them as well as the fetus are necessary.