Exploring self-medication and dietary patterns among the pregnant women in Bangladesh

Abstract

Pregnancy is an important stage in which maternal health behavior patterns significantly affect maternal and fetal outcomes. Consideration of these patterns is important to determine the risk factors and advance healthcare policies in developing nations such as Bangladesh. This study investigated self-medication practices, dietary patterns, prevalence of chronic conditions, and health concerns among 404 pregnant women in Bangladesh, recruited from both public (38.86%) and private (61.14%) healthcare institutions. The survey revealed that 17.57% of participants practiced self-medication, which is higher than local estimates but lower than the global average. Paracetamol (31%), antacids (28%), and herbal remedies (22%) were the most commonly used. Antibiotic use was notably low (2.8%), while herbal medicine use during pregnancy remained common (22%), consistent with previous findings in Bangladesh. Chronic conditions were reported at lower rates compared to national estimates, with gestational diabetes mellitus (2.97%), hypertension (1.49%), asthma (0.74%), and malnutrition (0.74%) observed. All GDM cases were found in urban participants, supporting the link between urban residence and elevated GDM risk. Analysis revealed that 16.3% of women visited doctors monthly, 48.5% every two to three months, and 35.1% only when symptomatic. Dietary assessments indicated generally healthy consumption patterns, with most participants consuming fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and whole grains daily. These results indicate both positive practices and areas of concern in maternal health during pregnancy. The improvement of monitoring and the reinforcement of health education would also help to advance safe practices and improve pregnancy outcomes in Bangladesh.