The Awareness of Pregnant Patient about Effect of Antibiotics in Pregnancy

J Microsc Ultrastruct. 2019 Apr-Jun;7(2):72-77. doi: 10.4103/JMAU.JMAU_56_18.

Abstract

Background: Medication during pregnancy should be prescribed under caution as some medication has adverse effects on fetus health and they may be teratogenic. Antibiotics are widely used in pregnancy as a result of infections, adding that many pregnant women may administrate antibiotic without doctors' prescription. It is very important to assess the awareness of females about the effect of antibiotics during the pregnancy period.

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the awareness of pregnant patient about effect of antibiotics in pregnancy.

Subjects and methods: This study is cross-sectional study which was conducted in 2017 from September to October. Data were collected using interviewing questionnaire which investigated several variables including sociodemographics, clinical examination, clinical history, and clinical measurements.

Results: Education and economic levels significantly affected the knowledge about reason for using antibiotic (P = 0.006, 0.002), using of antibiotic against what (P = 0.005, 0.000), education level affected the knowledge about the using of antibiotic without doctors' prescription (P = 0.01), and while economic level influenced knowledge about the effect of antibiotic (P = 0.01).

Conclusion: There was good level of knowledge about using of antibiotic during pregnancy among females which was affected by economic and education levels.

Keywords: Antibiotic use; Saudi Arabia; knowledge about antibiotics; pregnant women.