The use, perceptions and knowledge of safety of over-the-counter medications during pregnancy in a Canadian population

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of prenatal over-the-counter medication use in Canadian women is unknown. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of prenatal over-the-counter medication use and safety knowledge was conducted among pregnant and post-partum women attending an academic hospital obstetrics clinic. RESULTS: Seventy-two women participated; 90.3% were Caucasian, 69.4% had a college/university degree, and 61.1% lived in an urban area. Of the 72 women, 87.5% used over-the-counter medications prenatally, first (55.6%), second (65.3%), and third (47.2%) trimesters, with prenatal acetaminophen use most common (72.2%). Women who used over-the-counter medications 1–0onths before conception were more likely to use over-the-counter medications during pregnancy, and 18% of women initiated over-the-counter medications in pregnancy. Women self-reported a medium level of over-the-counter medication safety knowledge (73.6%) and responded that not all over-the-counter medications are safe during pregnancy (95.8%). CONCLUSION: Despite limited safety profiles of some over-the-counter medications, pre-conception and prenatal over-the-counter medication use was high. Further research on the risk of over-the-counter medications and combinations in pregnancy is needed to help women to make safe choices during pregnancy.