A survey on midwives knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy and lactstion in the city of Kerman

Drugs are often used by women during pregnancy & lactstion. Midwives are among those giving service in maternal and child health programs, and are in contact with groups of pregnant & lactation women. In order to determine the midwives knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy and lactstion, this survey was carried out on all midwives of Kerman city ( n =69) in June 1995, using a questionnaire based on the commonly Iran used 39.1℅ of midwives were technicians, 46.4℅ holders of bachelor degree 8.7℅ midwife nurses, 4.3℅ holders of master degree and 1.4℅ unknown. Mean age of midwives was 30.9 +_  6.7 years and mean duration of their employment was 7.6 +_ 6.1 years with a median of 6 years. 92.8℅ were working in governmental centers and 7.2℅ in private centers. The highest and least knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy was related to ferrous- sulfate with mean score of 1.84 +_ 0.44 and hyoscine with mean score of -0.13 +_1.58 respectively. The highest and least knowledge about drug usage in lactation were related to acetaminophen with mean score of 0.8 +_0.61 and imipramine with mean score of -0.52 +_ 0.86. the analysis of variance ( ANOVA) of data showed no significant statistical relationship between the midwives knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy  and lactstion, with age, education, and duration of employment. The results indicated that 20℅ of midwives  had no knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy and 51℅ had no knowledge about drug usage in lactation, therefore there seem to be a need for more training programs for midwives.