Drug use evaluation in obstetrics and gynecology is important because it helps to ensure the safety of both the mother and the fetus. Drug use during pregnancy can have consequences, including fetal risk, physiological change. Our study aimed to analyze drug usage in OBG as per FDA-pregnancy risk categories and also to assess rationality using WHO Drug use indicators. A Prospective observational study was conducted for a period of six months at a tertiary care teaching hospital with a sample size of 110. Pregnant women who were given oral consent were included in the study. Along with demographic data, the total number and categories of drug prescribed, percentage of individual drugs in each category etc were recorded. US FDA Risk drug category for pregnancy were also assessed. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics like mean, frequency and percentage. In our study, among 110 participants 31.8% were age group of 18-23 years followed by 50% in the age group of 24-29 Mean age of participants was 36.6±2.2 years. Out of 110 participants, majority (55%), were undergraduates, followed by 29% who were generally educated. Only 15% of the population has postgraduate qualification. Almost 53(48.1%) were in first trimester of pregnancy while 38 (34.5%) were in second trimester and 19 (17.2%) were in third trimester, the most frequently conducted test was CBC (80%), followed by urine culture (25%), ESR (20.05%), C – reactive protein (17%), hepatitis (5%), HIV (3.4%), cervical culture (8.6%), pap test (6.8%). The most common supplements that were prescribed, includes iron (30.9%) and Folic acid (27.6%). Antibiotics being the most prescribed (22.1%), followed by antacids (19.5%) and antiemetics (17.2%), Average number of drugs per prescription was 6.4, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 66.1, percentage of injection prescribed was 25.71, percentage of antibiotics prescribed was 38.40, percentage of drug prescribed from essential drug list was 60.2. Category A includes Vitamin supplements like Iron (30.9%) drug and folic acid (27.6%) drugs. Category B comprises antiemetics, antacids, antifibrinolytics and partial antibiotics with the highest count of 172 drugs (56.03%). Category C includes NSAIDs, analgesics and antipyretics, anthelmintics and miscellaneous drugs, totaling 95 drugs (30.94%). Category D consists of NSAIDs, Partial Antibiotics, Analgesics and Antipyretics, contributing 30 drugs (9.77%). No Category X drugs was prescribed. Our study findings revealed that the medications prescribed to pregnant women in obstetrics and gynecology department were appropriate. However, there is a need for periodic reviews of the safety, efficacy and appropriateness of drugs, prescribed to this population. This will help to minimize the use of contraindicated medications and ensure optimal health outcomes for both mothers and their newborns.
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