Nkrumah Jacqueline, Yao Gbagbo Fred, Self-Medication among Pregnant Women in Effutu and Agona West Municipalities of the Central Region of Ghana, Journal of Public Health International, Volume 1, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 25-35, ISSN 2641-4538, https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-19-2965.
(https://oapgroup.org/jphi/article/1139)
Abstract: Self-medication in pregnancy is a health concern in Ghana. We assessed the practice among 136 pregnant women in Effutu and Agona West Municipalities using facility-based, cross-sectional design and mixed method approach of data collection. Data analysis used SPSS and manual content analysis. Results show that pregnant women of all backgrounds self-medicate, with prevalence of 69%, motivated by cheaper treatment cost (17%), minor ailments (29%) and positive outcomes (33%). Commonly used medications include antibiotics (23%), pain killers (20%) and herbal preparations (19%). Preventing self-medication in pregnancy therefore requires awareness creation and evidence based Social Behavioral Change Communication on associated dangers.
Keywords: Self-Medication; Pregnant Women; Municipalities; Ghana.