Drug prescribing pattern among pregnant mothers attending obstetrics and gynecology department in Hiwot Fana Specialized Teaching Hospital, Ethiopia

Objective: To assess the pattern of prescribing and drug therapy problems among the pregnant mothers in Hiwot Fana specialized University hospital, Harar Ethiopia. Methods and subjects: Retrospective cross-sectional study was employed to assess drug prescribing pattern and teratogenicity risk among pregnant women who received any clinical services from MCH and obstetric clinic from 11 September 2012 to 31April 2013. Result: From a total of 422 samples selected, medical records of 395 pregnant women’s were included in the study; where about 27 of the patient card was not found during data collection. Among the 395 pregnant mothers, 301 (76.2%) were outpatient and 94(23.8%) were admitted. one hundred thirty eight (34.9%) are in age group of 21-25 and one hundred twenty five (31.6%) were third trimesters. Most frequently prescribed drug classes were antibiotics, vitamins and minerals, NSAIDS and analgesics, anti-hypertensive’s, cardio vascular drugs and fluids. Category D and X drugs which were considered to be risky to both pregnant women and fetus were prescribed for 42 (13.08%) pregnant women. From the study participant, 169 (42.8%) had drug therapy problem. One hundred eleven (28.1%) had need of additional drug therapy while 52 (13.2%) had unnecessary drug therapy and 11(2.8%), 24 (6.1%) had high and low dosage respectively. Conclusion: Antibiotics were commonly prescribed along vitamins and minerals while there were (13.08%) category D and category X drugs prescribed inappropriately to some of the patients. Such inappropriate prescription of drugs should not be underestimated because it definitely affects the life of both the mother and the fetus.