Figure 1Source of information regarding the medication used by pregnant women.
Table 1Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents (N = 447).
Variables |
Pregnant women n (%) |
Age range (y) |
18–30 |
241 (53.9) |
31–40 |
194 (43.4) |
41–50 |
12 (2.7) |
|
Race |
Malay |
326 (72.9) |
Chinese |
58 (13.0) |
Indian |
52 (11.6) |
Others |
11 (2.5) |
|
Education |
Illiterate |
3 (0.6) |
Primary |
12 (2.7) |
Secondary |
209 (46.8) |
University |
223 (49.9) |
|
Occupation |
Housewife |
142 (31.8) |
Employee (others) |
305 (68.2) |
|
Residence |
Rural |
31 (6.9) |
Urban |
416 (93.1) |
|
Pregnancy No. |
1 |
146 (32.7) |
> 1 < 3 |
238 (53.2) |
> 3 |
63 (14.1) |
Table 2Medication used by pregnant women in Malaysia (N = 447).
Variable |
Pregnant women n (%) |
Medication (use during pregnancy) |
|
Yes |
364 (81.4) |
No |
83 (18.6) |
Table 3List of medication used during pregnancy.
Drugs (used during pregnancy) |
Pregnant women n (%) |
Aspirin |
58 (13.0) |
Antidiabetic |
37 (8.3) |
Antiemetics |
7 (1.6) |
Antihypertensives |
11 (2.5) |
Antiretroviral |
1 (0.2) |
Antibiotics |
30 (8.3) |
Anthelmintic |
4 (0.9) |
Antacids |
3 (0.7) |
Anticancer |
1 (0.2) |
Antihistamines |
1 (0.2) |
Cough medicines |
2 (0.4) |
Analgesic/antipyretic |
113 (25.3) |
Thyroid hormone replacements |
5 (1.1) |
Hormones (dydrogestrone, estrogen) |
2 (0.4) |
Vitamins & supplements |
301 (67.3) |
Sertraline |
1 (0.2) |
Table 4Levels of knowledge, awareness, and beliefs (positive/negative) in the respondents.
|
Poor level (n) % of pregnant women |
Good level (n) % of pregnant women |
Knowledge |
(236) 52.8 |
(211) 47.2 |
Awareness |
(369) 82.6 |
(78) 17.4 |
Beliefs |
(253) 56.5 |
(194) 43.5 |
Table 5Logistic regression analysis identifying the variables significantly associated with different outcomes.
Independent Variables |
Variable coefficient (B) |
p
|
OR (95% CI) adjusted |
Use of medication during pregnancy (did not use)
|
Race |
|
|
|
Malay |
−0.738 |
0.039*
|
0.478 (0.237–0.963) |
Chinese |
0.070 |
0.924 |
1.072 (0.254–4.531) |
Indian |
−0.126 |
0.787 |
0.882 (0.353–2.20) |
Others |
- |
- |
1.00 |
Education level |
|
|
|
Illiterate |
0.553 |
0.0681 |
1.738(0.125–24.238) |
Primary school |
2.005 |
0.003*
|
7.804 (2.043–29.805) |
Secondary school |
0.571 |
0.049*
|
1.771 (1.002–3.128) |
University |
- |
- |
1.00 |
|
Knowledge level (good knowledge)
|
Age (y) |
|
|
|
< 25 |
−0.64 |
0.041*
|
0.526 (0.284–0.976) |
≥ 25 |
- |
- |
1.00 |
Education level |
|
|
|
Illiterate |
0.612 |
0.641 |
1.844 (0.14–24.243) |
Primary school |
−20.9 |
0.999 |
0.000 (0.000–0.000) |
Secondary school |
−0.586 |
0.008*
|
0.557 (0.36–0.856) |
University level |
- |
- |
1.00 |
|
Awareness level (good awareness)
|
Place of Residence |
|
|
|
Rural |
2.403 |
< 0.001*
|
11.06 (3.743–32.684) |
Urban |
- |
- |
1.00 |
Pregnancy No. |
|
|
|
1 |
−2.497 |
0.004*
|
0.082 (0.015–0.445) |
> 1 < 3 |
−1.073 |
0.033*
|
0.342 (0.127–0.918) |
> 3 |
- |
- |
1.00 |
|
Beliefs (+ve)
|
Race |
|
|
|
Malay |
0.586 |
0.089 |
1.796 (0.915–3.524) |
Chinese |
1.545 |
0.003*
|
4.687 (1.134–19.367) |
Indian |
−0.485 |
0.275 |
0.616 (0.258–1.470) |
Others |
- |
- |
1.00 |
Education level |
|
|
|
Illiterate |
−0.930 |
0.482 |
0.395 (0.030–5.277) |
Primary school |
−20.605 |
0.999 |
0.000 (0.000–0.000) |
Secondary school |
−0.649 |
0.004*
|
0.523 (0.337–0.810) |
University |
- |
- |
1.00 |
Occupation |
|
|
|
Housewife |
−0.678 |
0.006*
|
0.507 (0.314–0.820) |
Employed |
- |
- |
1.00 |