DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN AND POTENTIAL TERATOGENESITY RISK AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN; THE CASE OF AYDER REFERRAL HOSPITAL, TIGRAY – ETHIOPIA

It is important to treat the mother whenever needed while protecting the unborn from any side effects to the greatest possible extent. Objective of this study is to assess the utilization pattern and the teratogenesity risk of the drugs prescribed among pregnant women in Ayder referral hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia. Retrospective study was employed to assess drug utilization pattern and teratogenesity risk among pregnant women who were admitted to and/or visited Ayder referral hospital from 11 September 2010 to 9 March 2011. From Patient medical record, FDA pregnancy drug category of prescribed drugs was identified. The total number of pregnant women who were admitted to and/or visited Ayder referral hospital during the study period were 570. Only 217 (41.02%) of them have medication history. The rates of first trimester, second trimester and third trimester pregnancy term were 18 (8.30%), 20 (9.20%) and 179 (82.5%), respectively. According to FDA drug category, our finding reveals that there were few drugs prescribed inappropriately. In conclusion, medication practice during pregnancy in the hospital is encouraging except few drugs. However, hematinics prescription habit is very low for pregnant women who came to the Hospital for their ANC follow up. Hence, the hospital have to develop a system so that medication error during pregnancy can be minimized.  And anemia during pregnancy should be addressed by hematinics.