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Drug Prescriptions among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women Resident in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

Author

Listed:
  • Paola D’Aloja

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), 00161 Rome, Italy
    Equally contributed as first authors.)

  • Roberto Da Cas

    (National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), 00161 Rome, Italy
    Equally contributed as first authors.)

  • Valeria Belleudi

    (Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, 00145 Rome, Italy)

  • Filomena Fortinguerra

    (HTA & Pharmaceutical Economy Division, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), 00187 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Romana Poggi

    (Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, 00145 Rome, Italy)

  • Serena Perna

    (HTA & Pharmaceutical Economy Division, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), 00187 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesco Trotta

    (HTA & Pharmaceutical Economy Division, Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), 00187 Rome, Italy
    Equally supervised this study.)

  • Serena Donati

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), 00161 Rome, Italy
    Equally supervised this study.)

  • MoM-Net Group

    (Membership of the MoM-Net Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

Abstract

Ensuring drug safety for pregnant women through prescription drug monitoring is essential. The aim of this study was to describe the prescription pattern of medicines among pregnant immigrant women from countries with high migratory pressure (HMPCs) compared to pregnant Italian women. The prevalence of drug prescriptions among the two study populations was analysed through record linkage procedures applied to the administrative databases of eight Italian regions, from 2016 to 2018. The overall prevalence of drug prescription was calculated considering all women who received at least one prescription during the study period. Immigrants had a lower prevalence of drug prescriptions before (51.0% vs. 58.6%) and after pregnancy (55.1% vs. 60. 3%). Conversely, during pregnancy, they obtained a slightly higher number of prescriptions (74.9% vs. 72.8%). The most prescribed class of drugs was the blood and haematopoietic organs category (category ATC B) (56.4% vs. 45.9%, immigrants compared to Italians), followed by antimicrobials (31.3% vs. 33.7%). Most prescriptions were appropriate, while folic acid administration 3 months before conception was low for both study groups (3.9% immigrants and 6.2% Italians). Progesterone seemingly was prescribed against early pregnancy loss, more frequently among Italians (16.5% vs. 8.1% immigrants). Few inappropriate medications were prescribed among antihypertensives, statins and anti-inflammatory drugs in both study groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola D’Aloja & Roberto Da Cas & Valeria Belleudi & Filomena Fortinguerra & Francesca Romana Poggi & Serena Perna & Francesco Trotta & Serena Donati & MoM-Net Group, 2022. "Drug Prescriptions among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women Resident in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4186-:d:784868
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bollini, Paola & Pampallona, Sandro & Wanner, Philippe & Kupelnick, Bruce, 2009. "Pregnancy outcome of migrant women and integration policy: A systematic review of the international literature," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 452-461, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Locatelli & Sara Ornaghi & Alessandra Terzaghi & Valeria Belleudi & Filomena Fortinguerra & Francesca Romana Poggi & Serena Perna & Francesco Trotta & MoM-Net Group, 2023. "Antidiabetic Therapy during Pregnancy: The Prescription Pattern in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(23), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Karel Allegaert, 2022. "Pharmacotherapy during Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Lactation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-5, September.

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