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Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Eva Gerbier

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Service of Pharmacy, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Guillaume Favre

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Fatima Tauqeer

    (Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, N-0315 Oslo, Norway)

  • Ursula Winterfeld

    (Swiss Teratogen Information Service and Clinical Pharmacology Service, CHUV, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Milos Stojanov

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Alison Oliver

    (UK Teratology Information Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the UK Health Security Agency, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3HD, UK)

  • Anneke Passier

    (Teratology Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, ‘s Hertogenbosch, 5237 MH Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands)

  • Hedvig Nordeng

    (Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
    Department of Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0213 Oslo, Norway)

  • Léo Pomar

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • David Baud

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Alice Panchaud

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department “Woman-Mother-Child”, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Service of Pharmacy, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Carla Meyer-Massetti

    (Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Pharmacology & Toxicology, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Michael Ceulemans

    (Teratology Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, ‘s Hertogenbosch, 5237 MH Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
    Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
    L-C&Y—KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Information on medication utilization among pregnant and postpartum women during the pandemic is lacking. We described the prevalence and patterns of self-reported medication use among pregnant and postpartum women during the third wave of the pandemic (June–August 2021). An online questionnaire was distributed in five European countries between June–August 2021. Pregnant women or women who had delivered in the three preceding months, and ≥18 years old, could participate. The prevalence of overall medication use, self-medication, and changes in chronic medication use were determined. A total of 2158 women out of 5210 participants (41.4%) used at least one medication. Analgesics (paracetamol), systemic antihistamines (cetirizine), and drugs for gastric disorders (omeprazole) were the three most used classes. Anti-infectives were less prevalent than during pre-pandemic times. Antidepressants and anxiety related medication use remained similar, despite a higher prevalence of these symptoms. Self-medication was reported in 19.4% of women, and 4.1% of chronic medication users reported that they changed a chronic medication on personal initiative due to the pandemic. In conclusion, medication use patterns in our cohort were mostly similar to those of the first COVID-19 wave and the pre-pandemic period. More studies are needed to explore factors associated with self-medication and changes in chronic medication use due to the pandemic in this perinatal population.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Gerbier & Guillaume Favre & Fatima Tauqeer & Ursula Winterfeld & Milos Stojanov & Alison Oliver & Anneke Passier & Hedvig Nordeng & Léo Pomar & David Baud & Alice Panchaud & Carla Meyer-Massetti &, 2022. "Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5335-:d:803856
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Ceulemans & Veerle Foulon & Alice Panchaud & Ursula Winterfeld & Léo Pomar & Valentine Lambelet & Brian Cleary & Fergal O’Shaughnessy & Anneke Passier & Jonathan Luke Richardson & Karel Allega, 2021. "Vaccine Willingness and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women’s Perinatal Experiences and Practices—A Multinational, Cross-Sectional Study Covering the First Wave of the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Michael Ceulemans & Veerle Foulon & Alice Panchaud & Ursula Winterfeld & Léo Pomar & Valentine Lambelet & Brian Cleary & Fergal O’Shaughnessy & Anneke Passier & Jonathan Luke Richardson & Hedvig Norde, 2022. "Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Five European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-13, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Ceulemans & Kristel Van Calsteren & Karel Allegaert & Veerle Foulon, 2022. "Information Needs and Counseling Preferences among Potential Users of the Future Teratology Information Service in Belgium: A Cross-Sectional Study Involving the Public and Healthcare Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Mary Ndu & Gail Teachman & Janet Martin & Elysee Nouvet, 2024. "“We Live Our Life Normal”: A Qualitative Analysis of Nigerian Women’s Health-Seeking Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Karel Allegaert, 2022. "Pharmacotherapy during Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Lactation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-5, September.

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