Patterns of Medication Use During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study From Iran Publisher



Shabani A ; Fini HN ; Farahani Z ; Foumani RS ; Yaghmaei M ; Nikbakht H
Source: Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research Published:2026

Abstract

Background & Objective: The frequency of medication usage during pregnancy is prevalent. The present study was conducted with aim to investigate the patterns of medication used during pregnancy. Materials & Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 326 pregnant mothers attending in two Iranian Hospitals (Tehran, Iran) from November 2021 to September 2022. Participants’ data, including used medications, indications, and gestational age at usage were collected and recorded. Drugs were categorized into supplements, Over-The-Counter (OTC) medicines, and medicines for acute/short or chronic/long-time diseases. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Considering supplements, about 94% of pregnant mothers had taken at least one drug, and excluding supplements, this rate was 61%. The maximum and minimum medications were used in the first trimesters of pregnancy. The highest rate of medications was related to the group of acute/short-term disease (46%). Antiemetics (13.8%) and anti-infective (7.97%) were mostly consumed drugs. Concerning chronic-long term disease (27.3%), hypothyroidism (18.71%) was the most frequent disease needed medication. The most prevalent used OTC was Acetaminophen (6.74%). Maternal factors for using more medications during pregnancy were old age, non-Iranian nationality (afghan), and living in the suburbs. Conclusion: Anti-hypothyroidism, Anti-infective, Antiemetics, and Acetaminophen were mostly consumed drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy. These findings indicate that mothers should be aware of the safety of medicines and the time of consumption. Maternal risk factors for using medications during pregnancy should be considered in prenatal visits. It is recommended to perform pre-pregnancy consultation emphasizing controlling underlying disease and awareness of drugs’ adverse effects. A© 2026, Farname Inc. All rights reserved.