Attitude of pregnant women towards medicine and food supplements consumption during pregnancy

Objective: To evaluate the addidude of pregnant women towards medicine and food supplements consumption during pregnancy, and the sources of information that effect their decision. Methods: A questionnaire method was applied. Thetudy was made during 2011 September – 2012 January. The questionnaires were being filled out in some Birth homes, during lectures regarding pregnancy and birth, and other methods.The statistical analysis of the quantitative findings was performed using the data accumulation and analysis software package SPSS version 17.0 for Windows. P-values less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: 16,7% do not use any food supplements and medications. All the others – do. Physicians advice determined the decision of choosing food supplements for 78,9%, and 83,3% for choosing medications. Only 8,9% and 11,1% of the women stated their pharmacist to be their primary advisor. One third of the women heard conflicting information about medication use at least once, 4,7% stated they hear conflicting information constantly. The composition of the drug, as the primary feature of choosing a drug, is marked by 58%, the safety of the drug – by 70%. Conclusions: 1. Only a small part of all respondents did not use any medications of food supplements. Their decision was determined by the composition of the drug, physician advices and the safety of the drug. 2. The most populat sources of informatikon regarding drug and food supplement selection were the physicin, a pharmacist and advices of friends. 3. Pregnant women do not value enough a pharmacist as a qualified healthcare specialist. 4. We found out, that at least one third of all pregnant women have at least once received conflicting information about medication and food supplement use during pregnancy