Drug Utilization Pattern in Pregnancy- a Scope for Improvement in the Current Prescribing Practices

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the pattern of drug (prescription, OTC) utilization in pregnant women attending the Antenatal OPD at a Tertiary care hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 400 pregnant women attending Antenatal Out Patient Department. Out of 400 women majority (40%) were in the third trimester. The average drugs prescribed were 6.25 per prescription. Iron, Folic acid and Calcium were the main drug of choice during pregnancy, either alone or in combination with other drugs. Mostly, the drugs were of US FDA risk category B and none of the category X drugs was prescribed. Self-medication was more in higher socio economic population. The study revealed prescribing behaviour to pregnant women under Antenatal care and determines the extent of prescription of drugs to provide optimum health care to improve the overall health of the mother and baby in community.