A pilot study on the rational use of medicines in four tertiary care hospitals through validated World Health Organization prescribing drugs indicators.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate utilization of therapeutic agents is a basic component of the quality of health outcomes for the patients and the community. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the rational use of medicines and antibiotics, based on World Health Organization (who) prescribing indicators. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional pilot study in the medical outpatient departments in four tertiary care hospitals of Islamabad, Pakistan, in order to verify the correct prescribing of medicines according to the validated indicators prepared by the World Health Organization (who). METHODS: The Registries of all the prescriptions formulated during the period April 02 2017 - April 01 2018 by the outpatient departments of four tertiary care hospitals (two government funded hospitals (GH-A and GH-B) and two private funded hospitals (PH-C and PH-D) were considered. According to the World Health Organization recommendations, during the following month (April 02 2018 to May 1 2018), 600 prescriptions (150 per hospital) were collected by a random sampling method, verified and analyzed through a statistical tool (SPSS version 22.0). RESULTS: Mean number of medicines per prescription were 4.6 (Optimal value ≤ 2), with the highest value observed in GH-B hospital. Out of these, 350 (58.3%) (Optimal value < 30%) prescriptions consisted of antibiotics and 340 (56.6%) (Optimal value < 25%) prescriptions consisted of injectable medicines, with marked differences between hospitals. About 550 (19.6%) medicines were prescribed by generic name in all selected prescriptions with the lowest value observed in PH-D (9.9%) (Optimal value = 100%). Overall, 88% medicines were prescribed from National essential medicine list/formulary (Optimal value = 100%). All the prescribing core indicators showed significant difference between hospitals (P = 0.001). The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was ceftriaxone (37.4%), followed by ciprofloxacin (15.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Poor adherence to WHO prescribing indicators were observed in all medical outpatient departments in selected hospitals. WHO recommended core interventions should be implemented on trial basis to develop strategies to achieve long-lasting benefits.

Essential Medicinal Chemistry of Essential Medicines.

Since 1977, the World Health Organization publishes a list of essential medicines, i.e., those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population and are selected with regard to disease prevalence and public health relevance, evidence of clinical efficacy, and safety, as well as comparative costs and cost-effectiveness. The Essential Medicines List (EML) is an invaluable tool for all countries to select those medicines that have an excellent risk/benefit ratio and that are reputed to be of pivotal importance to health. In the present perspective, we describe the chemical composition and the main features of the small molecules that are included in the EML, spanning from their origin, to their stereochemistry and measure of drug-likeness. Most and foremost, we wish to disseminate the importance of the EML, which can be both a helpful teaching tool in an ever-expanding world of medicines and an inspiration for those involved in pharmaceutical R&D.

Evaluating access to oral anti-diabetic medicines: A cross-sectional survey of prices, availability and affordability in Shaanxi Province, Western China.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the availability and affordability of oral anti-diabetic medicines in Shaanxi Province, Western China. METHODS: In 2015, the prices and availability of 8 anti-diabetic medicines covering 31 different dosage forms and strengths were collected in six cities of Shaanxi Province. A total of 72 public hospitals and 72 private pharmacies were sampled, using a modified methodology developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI). Medicine prices were compared with international reference prices to obtain a median price ratio. For urban residents, affordability was assessed as the lowest-paid unskilled government workers to purchase cost of standard treatment in days' wages; for rural residents, days' net income was used. RESULTS: The mean availabilities of originator brands (OBs) and generics were 34.3% and 28.7% in public hospitals, and 44.1% and 64.4% in the private pharmacies. OBs and the lowest priced generics (LPGs) were procured at 12.38 and 4.52 times the international reference price in public hospitals, and 10.26 and 2.81 times the international reference prices in private pharmacies. Treatments with OBs were unaffordable even for urban residents. The affordability of the LPGs was good, except for acarbose, repaglinide and pioglitazone. CONCLUSIONS: Most anti-diabetic medicines cannot met the WHO's availability target (80% availability) in Shaanxi Province. The high prices of OBs had severely influenced the affordability of medicines, especially for the rural residents. Effective policies should be initiated to ensure the Chinese people a better access to more affordable anti-diabetic medicines.

Lista básica de medicamentos / Basic Drug List

El objetivo de este catálogo es contar con una Lista Básica de Medicamentos actualizada, que facilite la disponibilidad de medicamentos eficaces, seguros y accesibles en el sistema público de salud. La idea de este catálogo nace con el fin de fortalecer el acceso y uso racional de medicamentos de calidad, eficaces, seguros y costo-efectivos en los diferentes niveles de atención. Sirve como marco de referencia para la utilización y gestión del medicamento. Incluye un excelente glosario de términos farmacéuticos

Unavailability of appropriate doses and need for tablet splitting of psychotropic drugs by geriatric patients / Indisponibilidade de doses apropriadas e necessidade de fracionamento de medicamentos psicotrópicos por pacientes geriátricos

BACKGROUND: Tablet splitting appears common in older adults, but its safety, and the factors associated with this practice, remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To identify which psychotropic drugs are most often split, which doses are intended with this practice, and whether these doses are provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) or commercially available. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 632 geriatric outpatients. The number of individuals who split tablets was identified, as well as the psychotropic drugs they used and split. The availability of these drugs on the SUS network and on the market was assessed by checking the 2017 National Formulary of Essential Medicines (RENAME 2017) and the Dictionary of Proprietary Medicinal Products (Dicionário de Especialidades Farmacêuticas) respectively. RESULTS: Tablet splitting was reported by 178 patients (28.2%). This practice was significantly more common among those aged 80 years or older. Tablet splitting was significantly associated with a greater number of medical visits and a higher pill burden. The most commonly affected therapeutic classes were antipsychotics (23.9%), other psychotropic drugs (18.7%) and antidepressants (12.3%). Of the 20 psychotropic drugs split, 45% were available on the SUS. CONCLUSIONS: Tablet splitting poses a challenge, as there is no guarantee of uniformity of concentration of the active ingredient in the split halves. Although the psychotropic drugs that were split in this sample are commercially available, most were not available from SUS in the desired dose forms for older adults.

INTRODUÇÃO: O fracionamento de comprimidos é comum em pacientes geriátricos, mas a segurança e os fatores associados a essa prática permanecem incertos. OBJETIVO: Identificar quais medicamentos psicotrópicos são mais frequentemente fracionados, quais doses se destinam a essa prática e se essas dosagens são fornecidas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) ou comercialmente disponíveis. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo transversal de 632 pacientes ambulatoriais geriátricos. O número de indivíduos que fracionou os comprimidos foi identificado, bem como os medicamentos psicotrópicos que foram usados e fracionados. A disponibilidade desses medicamentos na rede SUS e no mercado foi avaliada através da verificação do Formulário Nacional de Medicamentos Essenciais (RENAME) de 2017 e do Dicionário de Especialidades Farmacêuticas, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: A partição de comprimidos foi relatada por 178 pacientes (28,2%). Essa prática foi significativamente mais comum entre aqueles com 80 anos ou mais. O fracionamento dos comprimidos foi significativamente associado a um maior número de consultas médicas e a uma maior carga de comprimidos. As classes terapêuticas mais comumente afetadas foram antipsicóticos (23,9%), outros medicamentos psicotrópicos (18,7%) e antidepressivos (12,3%). Dos 20 medicamentos psicotrópicos fracionados, 45% estavam disponíveis no SUS. CONCLUSÕES: O fracionamento de comprimidos representa um desafio, pois não há garantia de uniformidade de concentração do ingrediente ativo nas metades fracionadas. Embora os medicamentos psicotrópicos fracionados nesta amostra estejam disponíveis comercialmente, a maioria não estava disponível no SUS nas formas de dosagem desejadas para a população geriátrica.

[Review of national and international legal and regulatory mechanisms on the management of drugs and the residues thereof]. / Revisão dos dispositivos legais e normativos internacionais e nacionais sobre gestão de medicamentos e de seus resíduos.

This paper presents a descriptive review of laws and regulations on the management of drugs and the residues thereof adopted by countries in Europe, the Americas and Australia. This review integrates relevant points of official documents of regulatory agencies in these countries, as well as important scientific works. All countries surveyed carry out drug management concomitant with the management of the residues thereof, ranging from awareness programs on the rational use and the risks of drugs through to the collection and safe disposal of such residues. Germany, the USA and Sweden demand a prior assessment of the environmental impact caused by a given drug as a criterion for its registration. Sweden is noteworthy in that it periodically updates a list of essential drugs based on risk assessment and the environmental risks posed by the residues thereof. In Brazil, the legal measures proposed including rational prescription and reverse logistics have not yet been effectively implemented. Prior environmental impact assessment safeguards the risks to human health and the wild biota caused by exposure to drug residues. Therefore, these international models could serve as a basis for discussion and/or legal and regulatory changes in Brazil.

Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão descritiva de leis e normas adotadas pelos países da Europa, das Américas e Austrália sobre gestão de medicamentos e de seus resíduos. Esta revisão integra pontos relevantes de documentos oficiais das agências reguladoras desses países, bem como de trabalhos científicos importantes. Todos os países pesquisados realizam gestão de medicamentos concomitantemente com a gestão de seus resíduos, atuando desde programas de conscientização sobre o uso racional e os riscos dos medicamentos até na coleta e disposição segura de seus resíduos. A Alemanha, os EUA e a Suécia exigem uma avaliação prévia do impacto ambiental provocado pelo medicamento como critério de seu registro. Em destaque, a Suécia que periodicamente atualiza uma lista de medicamentos essenciais baseada na avaliação do risco e do perigo ambiental de seus resíduos. No Brasil, as medidas legais propostas como prescrição racional e logística reversa ainda não foram efetivamente implementadas. A avaliação prévia de impacto ambiental resguarda os riscos à saúde humana e da biota selvagem causados pela exposição aos resíduos de medicamentos. Portanto, esses modelos internacionais poderiam servir de base para discussões e/ou alterações legais e normativas no Brasil.

Revisão dos dispositivos legais e normativos internacionais e nacionais sobre gestão de medicamentos e de seus resíduos / Review of national and international legal and regulatory mechanisms on the management of drugs and the residues thereof

Resumo Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão descritiva de leis e normas adotadas pelos países da Europa, das Américas e Austrália sobre gestão de medicamentos e de seus resíduos. Esta revisão integra pontos relevantes de documentos oficiais das agências reguladoras desses países, bem como de trabalhos científicos importantes. Todos os países pesquisados realizam gestão de medicamentos concomitantemente com a gestão de seus resíduos, atuando desde programas de conscientização sobre o uso racional e os riscos dos medicamentos até na coleta e disposição segura de seus resíduos. A Alemanha, os EUA e a Suécia exigem uma avaliação prévia do impacto ambiental provocado pelo medicamento como critério de seu registro. Em destaque, a Suécia que periodicamente atualiza uma lista de medicamentos essenciais baseada na avaliação do risco e do perigo ambiental de seus resíduos. No Brasil, as medidas legais propostas como prescrição racional e logística reversa ainda não foram efetivamente implementadas. A avaliação prévia de impacto ambiental resguarda os riscos à saúde humana e da biota selvagem causados pela exposição aos resíduos de medicamentos. Portanto, esses modelos internacionais poderiam servir de base para discussões e/ou alterações legais e normativas no Brasil.

Abstract This paper presents a descriptive review of laws and regulations on the management of drugs and the residues thereof adopted by countries in Europe, the Americas and Australia. This review integrates relevant points of official documents of regulatory agencies in these countries, as well as important scientific works. All countries surveyed carry out drug management concomitant with the management of the residues thereof, ranging from awareness programs on the rational use and the risks of drugs through to the collection and safe disposal of such residues. Germany, the USA and Sweden demand a prior assessment of the environmental impact caused by a given drug as a criterion for its registration. Sweden is noteworthy in that it periodically updates a list of essential drugs based on risk assessment and the environmental risks posed by the residues thereof. In Brazil, the legal measures proposed including rational prescription and reverse logistics have not yet been effectively implemented. Prior environmental impact assessment safeguards the risks to human health and the wild biota caused by exposure to drug residues. Therefore, these international models could serve as a basis for discussion and/or legal and regulatory changes in Brazil.

Prescribing patterns of antimicrobials in the Internal Medicine Department of Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobials are among the most commonly prescribed therapeutic agents in hospitals. Irrational use of antimicrobials results in the development of antimicrobial resistance which could lead to life-threatening illnesses. Therefore, the assessment of antimicrobial prescribing and use is of utmost importance. This study aimed to examine the prescribing patterns of antimicrobials in the Internal Medicine Department of Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using World Health Organization (WHO) indicators for antimicrobial use in hospitals. Systematic random sampling was used to select 245 medical records from the 2613 medical records of patients admitted to the internal medicine department in 2016. Data were collected using a data collection form and a structured interview with the chief pharmacist in the hospital. RESULTS: Of the 245 medical records examined, 201 (82%) patients were prescribed one or more antimicrobial drug. The average number of antimicrobials per patient was (2.1±1.1). The average duration of antimicrobial treatment was (4.9±3.8) days. The generic name was used in (35.6%) of antimicrobials, while (95.5%) of all antimicrobials were prescribed from the national essential medicines list. Overall, there were 421 courses of antimicrobials prescribed. The most frequently prescribed antimicrobials were ceftriaxone (131 courses) and metronidazole (89 courses). Among the documented infectious diseases, the most frequently encountered was pneumonia, followed by malaria. There was no drug and therapeutic committee, hospital formulary or essential medicines list, and standard treatment guidelines for infectious diseases in the hospital. CONCLUSION: The results of the study revealed a high percentage of antimicrobial use in the Internal Medicine Department. Multifaceted interventions are urgently needed to promote rational prescribing of antimicrobials.

[Study considering the use of medicines in children receiving free care]. / Etude de l'utilisation des médicaments chez les enfants dans un contexte de gratuité des soins.

INTRODUCTION: Rational medical prescription is a concern for the health systems and policies of African countries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the use of medicines in children aged 0 to 5 years receiving free care. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study considering the use of medicines in 20 randomly selected health facilities level 1 in Ouagadougou. The reference of the World Health Organization and of the International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs (WHO/INRUD) was used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics were used as the average and standard deviation. Differences were measured using ANOVA test. RESULTS: In total, 1.206 prescriptions were reviewed between April 2016 and March 2017. The number of medicines issued on prescription was 2.9, the percentage of generic medicines prescribed was 88.7% and 97.7% of medicines prescribed were registered on the National List of Essential Medicines. The percentage of consultations during which antibiotics were prescribed was 83.2%, and 9.3% of prescriptions contained at least one injectable product. CONCLUSION: Irrational prescription is mainly relates to the use of antibiotics. Essential alertness should be given to the treatment of children less than 5 years to avoid an excessive consumption of medicines and the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Biopharmaceutical optimization in neglected diseases for paediatric patients by applying the provisional paediatric biopharmaceutical classification system.

AIMS: Unavailability and lack of appropriate, effective and safe formulations are common problems in paediatric therapeutics. Key factors such as swallowing abilities, organoleptic preferences and dosage requirements determine the need for optimization of formulations. The provisional Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) can be used in paediatric formulation design as a risk analysis and optimization tool. The objective of this study was to classify six neglected tropical disease drugs following a provisional paediatric BCS (pBCS) classification adapted to three paediatric subpopulations (neonates, infants and children). METHODS: Albendazole, benznidazole, ivermectin, nifurtimox, praziquantel and proguanil were selected from the 5th edition of the Model List of Essential Medicines for Children from the World Health Organization. Paediatric drug solubility classification was based on dose number calculation. Provisional permeability classification was based on log P comparison versus metoprolol log P value, assuming passive diffusion absorption mechanisms and no changes in passive membrane permeability between paediatric patients and adults. pBCS classes were estimated for each drug, according to different doses and volumes adapted for each age stage and were compared to the adult classification. RESULTS: All six drugs were classified into provisional pBCS in the three paediatric subpopulations. Three drugs maintained the same classification as for adults, ivermectin and benznidazole changed solubility class from low to high in neonates and proguanil changed from low to high solubility in all age stages. CONCLUSION: Provisional pBCS classification of these six drugs shows potential changes in the limiting factors in oral absorption in paediatrics, depending on age stage, compared to the adult population. This valuable information will aid the optimization of paediatric dosing and formulations and can identify bioinequivalence risks when comparing different formulations and paediatric populations.

Patient satisfaction with prescribed medicines in community health services in China: A cross-sectional survey 6 years after the implementation of the national essential medicines policy.

The National essential medicines policy (NEMP) is promoted by the World Health Organization for affordable medicines that can meet the basic needs of communities. Patient acceptance is essential for achieving the policy goals of the NEMP. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with prescribed medicines in community health services under the NEMP context in China. A stratified random sampling strategy was adopted to select 1,037 participants in 40 community health centres from four provinces in China. Patient satisfaction was rated on a five-point Likert scale (from 1 = "very dissatisfied" to 5 = "very satisfied") covering four domains: availability, affordability, effectiveness and safety. The results showed that the participants expressed a moderate degree of satisfaction, with a rating in the range of 66-82 out of a total of 100. Older people, those covered by insurance and those with a lower level of education tended to have higher ratings. While eastern (wealthy) residents were more likely to be concerned with "effectiveness," western (poor) residents were more likely to be concerned with "affordability." Awareness of the NEMP was negatively associated with patient satisfaction after control for other factors.

Overcoming Obstacles To Enable Access To Medicines For Noncommunicable Diseases In Poor Countries.

The modern access-to-medicines movement grew largely out of the civil-society reaction to the HIV/AIDS pandemic three decades ago. While the movement was successful with regard to HIV/AIDS medications, the increasingly urgent challenge to address access to medicines for noncommunicable diseases has lagged behind-and, in some cases, has been forgotten. In this article we first ask what causes the access gap with respect to lifesaving essential noncommunicable disease medicines and then what can be done to close the gap. Using the example of the push for access to antiretrovirals for HIV/AIDS patients for comparison, we highlight the problems of inadequate global financing and procurement for noncommunicable disease medications, intellectual property barriers and concerns raised by the pharmaceutical industry, and challenges to building stronger civil-society organizations and a patient and humanitarian response from the bottom up to demand treatment. We provide targeted policy recommendations, specific to the public sector, the private sector, and civil society, with the goal of improving access to noncommunicable disease medications globally.

Farmacología en cuidados paliativos. Vías de administración, mezclas, efectos secundarios frecuentes, normas básicas para el control de síntomas / Pharmacological treatment in palliative care. Drug administration route, continuous subcutaneous infusion, adverse side effects symptom management

Objetivo. Para lograr el bienestar del paciente en Cuidados Paliativos (CP) es obligado conocer cuáles son los síntomas más frecuentes, qué fármacos se utilizan para su alivio, cuáles son las vías de administración, qué efectividad demuestran y qué incompatibilidades, interacciones y efectos adversos. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar las cuestiones relevantes en el manejo enfermero de los fármacos comúnmente usados en CP y presentar recomendaciones orientadas a la práctica clínica. Metodología. Se seleccionan las intervenciones sobre manejo enfermero de fármacos en CP recomendadas por la literatura científica tras una búsqueda realizada en Scopus, CINAHL, Medline-Pubmed, UpToDate y Google Académico. Resultados. La vía oral es la de elección en el paciente en situación paliativa, y la subcutánea cuando no está disponible la primera. La sintomatología, compleja, intensa y cambiante, debe reevaluarse de forma sistemática por el profesional de enfermería, y contrarrestar posibles descompensaciones impredecibles de la misma con una dosis extra de medicación. Discusión. El personal de enfermería ha de saber reconocer la descompensación y actuar rápida y eficazmente en el alivio de una sintomatología tan desagradable para el paciente como el dolor, la disnea o el delírium. Para la administración correcta de la medicación de rescate, el personal de enfermería debe conocer los métodos de evaluación sintomática, las características farmacocinéticas y farmacodinámicas de los fármacos, los intervalos de tiempo que deben transcurrir entre diferentes rescates y evaluar la respuesta a los mismos (AU)

Objective. To achieve well-being in patients in Palliative Care is required to know which are the most common symptoms, which are the drugs used for relief, which are the routes of administration of drugs that are suitable, how effective the drugs are and what incompatibilities, interactions and adverse effects occur. The aim of this article is to review the relevant issues in the management of the drugs commonly used by nursing in Palliative Care and presenting recommendations to clinical practice. Methodology. Management interventions drugs for nurses Palliative Care recommended by the scientific literature after a search of Scopus, CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, UpToDate and Google Scholar are selected. Results. The oral route is the choice for patients in palliative situation and subcutaneous route when the first is not available. The symptoms, complex, intense and moody, should be systematically reevaluated by the nurse, to predict when a posible decompensation of it needing extra dose of medication. Discussion. Nurses must be able to recognize the imbalance of well-being and act quickly and effectively, to get relief to some unpleasant situations for the patient as the pain symptoms, dyspnea or delirium. For the proper administration of rescue medication, the nurse should know the methods of symptomatic evaluation, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs, the time intervals to elapse between different rescues and assess response to them (AU)

The selection and use of essential medicines.

This report presents the recommendations of the WHO Expert Committee responsible for updating the WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines. It contains a summary of the Committee's considerations and justifications for additions and changes to the Model Lists, including its recommendations. Annexes to the main report include the revised version of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (18th edition) and the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (4th edition). In addition there is a list of all the items on the Model Lists sorted according to their Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification codes.

[Factors associated with use of medication during first pregnancies in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil]. / Fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos na gestação em primigestas no Município de Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil.

This cross-sectional study in a sample of 887 primigravidae in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil aimed to analyze factors associated with the use of medicines during the first pregnancy. Information was obtained from interviews and prenatal cards. Medicines were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System of the World Health Organization and risk categories according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Mean age was 21 years and mean number of medicines used was 2.42. The most frequently consumed medicines were antianemics (47.5%), supplements and vitamins (18.7%), analgesics (13.8%), and antibiotics (10.5%). In the risk categorization, 69.3% belonged to category A, 22.3% to B, 7.6% to C, and 0.8% to D. The odds of having used risky medicines were higher among primigravidae in unit B (OR = 2.10; 95%CI: 1.26-3.50), in the 19 to 24-year age bracket (OR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.58-4.93), and in the presence of a medical prescription (OR = 1.86; 95%CI: 1.18-2.95). Essential drugs were less used by women with higher family income (OR = 0.63; 95%CI: 0.42-0.96) and those who had received private prenatal care (OR = 0.53; 95%CI: 0.38-0.74).

Fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos na gestação em primigestas no Município de Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil / Factors associated with use of medication during first pregnancies in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil / Factores asociados con el uso de fármacos en el embarazo de primigestas en Río Branco, Acre, Brasil

Estudo transversal, envolvendo 887 primigestas com o objetivo de analisar os fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos na gestação no Município de Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil. As informações tiveram como base uma entrevista e o cartão de pré-natal. Os medicamentos foram classificados de acordo com o Sistema Anatômico Terapêutico Químico (ATC), da Organização Mundial da Saúde, e com a categoria de risco do Food and Drug Administration (Estados Unidos). A média de idade foi 21 anos, a média do uso de medicamentos foi 2,42; os medicamentos mais consumidos foram os antianêmicos (47,5%), suplementos e vitaminas (18,7%), analgésicos (13,8%) e antibióticos (10,5%). Na categorização de risco, 69,3% pertenciam à categoria A; 22,3% à B; 7,6% à C e 0,8% à D. A chance de ter sido exposta à utilização de medicamentos de risco foi maior nas primigestas na unidade B (RC = 2,10; IC95%: 1,26-3,50), na faixa etária de 19 a 24 anos (RC = 2,79; IC95%: 1,58-4,93) e com prescrição médica (RC = 1,86; IC95%: 1,18-2,95). Os medicamentos essenciais foram menos utilizados entre as mulheres com maior renda familiar (RC = 0,63; IC95%: 0,42-0,96), e que realizaram o pré-natal na rede privada (RC = 0,53; IC95%: 0,38-0,74).

This cross-sectional study in a sample of 887 primigravidae in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil aimed to analyze factors associated with the use of medicines during the first pregnancy. Information was obtained from interviews and prenatal cards. Medicines were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System of the World Health Organization and risk categories according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Mean age was 21 years and mean number of medicines used was 2.42. The most frequently consumed medicines were antianemics (47.5%), supplements and vitamins (18.7%), analgesics (13.8%), and antibiotics (10.5%). In the risk categorization, 69.3% belonged to category A, 22.3% to B, 7.6% to C, and 0.8% to D. The odds of having used risky medicines were higher among primigravidae in unit B (OR = 2.10; 95%CI: 1.26-3.50), in the 19 to 24-year age bracket (OR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.58-4.93), and in the presence of a medical prescription (OR = 1.86; 95%CI: 1.18-2.95). Essential drugs were less used by women with higher family income (OR = 0.63; 95%CI: 0.42-0.96) and those who had received private prenatal care (OR = 0.53; 95%CI: 0.38-0.74).

Estudio transversal con 887 primigestas para analizar los factores asociados al consumo de medicamentos durante el embarazo en Río Branco, Acre, Brasil. La información se basó en entrevistas y tarjeta prenatal. Los medicamentos se calificaron de acuerdo con el sistema anatómico terapéutico químico (ATC), de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y con la categoría de riesgo del Food and Drug Administration (Estados Unidos). La media de edad fue de 21 años; la media del uso de medicamentos fue de un 2,42; los medicamentos más consumidos fueron los antianémicos (47,5%), los suplementos y vitaminas (18,7%), analgésicos (13,8%) y antibióticos (10,5%). En la clasificación de riesgo, un 69,3% pertenecían a la categoría A; 22,3% a B; 7,6% a C y 0,8% a la D. La posibilidad de haber estado expuestas al riesgo en el consumo de medicamentos fue mayor en primigestas en la unidad B (OR = 2,10, IC95%: 1,26-3,50), con edades entre 19 y 24 años (OR = 2,79, IC95%: 1,58-4,93) y con prescripción (OR = 1,86, IC95%: 1,18-2,95). Los medicamentos esenciales fueron utilizados con menos frecuencia en las mujeres con mayores ingresos de los hogares (OR = 0,63, IC95%: 0,42-0,96) y que realizaron el cuidado prenatal en una red clínica privada (OR = 0,53, IC95%: 0,38- 0,74).