RESUMO
Self-medication during pregnancy represents a serious threat for mother and child health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the factors associated with self-medication among Mexican women living in the central region of Mexico. This is a descriptive interview-study of 1798 pregnant women or women who were pregnant no more than 3â¯years ago, when the interview was carried out. Data analysis was carried out with chi-square analysis and odds ratio. The prevalence of self-medication (allopathic drugs, medicinal plants, and other products, including vitamins, food supplements, among others) was 21.9%. The factors associated (pâ¯<â¯0.05) with self-medication were: higher education (college and postgraduate), smoking, and consumption of alcohol. Smoking was the strongest factor (OR: 2.536; 1.46-4.42) associated to self-medication during pregnancy, followed by consumption of alcohol (OR: 2.06; 1.38-3.08), and higher education (OR: 1.607; 1.18-2.19). Medicinal plant consumption was associated with nausea, constipation, migraine, and cold (pâ¯<â¯0.05), whereas he self-medication of allopathy was associated with gastritis and migraine (pâ¯<â¯0.05). Self-medication was influenced mainly by a relative or friend, who recommended the use of herbal medicine/allopathic medication. Two of the most common medicinal plants (arnica and ruda) here informed are reported to induce abortion or toxicity during pregnancy. The findings showed that self-medication (medicinal plants and allopathic medication) is a common practice among pregnant women from central Mexico. Adequate counselling of pregnant women by healthcare professionals about the potential risks of self-medication with herbal medicine and allopathic drugs during pregnancy is strongly warranted.
RESUMO
This study evaluated the prevalence of concomitant use of herbal products for weight loss (HPWL) and allopathic medicine. Factors associated with the prevalence, adverse reactions, and the alteration of medication adherence with the concomitant use of HPWL alone and in combination with allopathic medicine, were assessed. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional using a questionnaire conducted among people with overweight or obesity (n=662) from five cities of Central Mexico. Adherence to medications was measured using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. The prevalence of adverse reactions induced by the concomitant use of HPWL, and allopathic medicine was 25.3%. The use of HPWL affected medication adherence by 68%. There is a high prevalence (45.2%) of concomitant use of HPWL and allopathic medicine in people with overweight or obesity in Central Mexico. The concomitant use of HPWL and allopathic medicine induces adverse reactions, mainly gastrointestinal, and thus, medication adherence is affected.
Este estudio evaluó la prevalencia del uso concomitante de productos a base de hierbas para bajar de peso (HPWL) y medicina alopática. Se evaluaron los factores asociados con la prevalencia, las reacciones adversas y la alteración de la adherencia a la medicación con el uso concomitante de HPWL solo y en combinación con medicina alopática. El estudio fue descriptivo y transversal mediante un cuestionario realizado entre personas con sobrepeso u obesidad (n = 662) de cinco ciudades del centro de México. La adherencia a los medicamentos se midió mediante la Escala de adherencia a la medicación de Morisky. La prevalencia de reacciones adversas inducidas por el uso concomitante de HPWL y medicina alopática fue del 25,3%. El uso de HPWL afectó la adherencia a la medicación en un 68%. Existe una alta prevalencia (45.2%) de uso concomitante de HPWL y medicina alopática en personas con sobrepeso u obesidad en el centro de México. El uso concomitante de HPWL y medicina alopática induce reacciones adversas, principalmente gastrointestinales, y por tanto, afecta la adherencia a la medicación.