Self-medication amongst pregnant women in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India

Background: Self-medication is a popular practice in developing countries where there is no strict regulation of drugs sold in local pharmacies. General public is usually unaware of the adverse effects of drugs used for common illness and continue using them without prescription during pregnancy. This study was carried out to know the extent of self-medication practised by pregnant women and various factors associated with it.Methods: A questionnaire based, cross-sectional study of pregnant women visiting the OB GYN-OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital was conducted. 303 eligible subjects were questioned and statistical analysis was carried out.Results: Total 16.5% women were found to be self-medicating during pregnancy for common conditions like headache (26%), fever (23%) and common cold (19%). Odds Ratio between the self-medicating and non-self-medicating groups for variables like age (<25 years; ≥25 years), education (illiterate; literate) and gestational age (<20 weeks; ≥20 weeks) are 1.6, 2 and 1.73 respectively. Women with a history of self-medicating before pregnancy were significantly more likely to continue doing so during pregnancy (p value <0.00001).Conclusions: A significant proportion of pregnant women have been found to self-medicate without knowing the adverse effects of the drug used. Thus, spreading awareness against this health-predicament is necessary

Research article Role of non-descent vaginal hysterectomy in advancing gynaecological practice

Aims and objectives To study role of non descent vaginal hysterectomy in advancing gynaecology practice and to study safety and simplicity, indications of surgery, age group and parity, post operative complications, morbidity and mortality. Methods A retrospective study of 100 cases of non descent vaginal hysterectomy from 1/1/2011 to 30/8/2012 in department of obstetrics and gynaecology in our institute. Results Among all major gynaecological surgeries, 70 % surgeries were hysterectomy. Among 100 cases of NDVH 95 % patients operated for NDVH alone, 4 % patients operated for NDVH with salpingo ophrectomy, and rest 1 % patient operated for NDVH with kelly’s repair. Out of 100 cases of NDVH 41% patients operated for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, in multipara (93%)patients, during the age group of 41-50 years (52%). In our study we had patients with different systemic illnesses but overall outcome satisfactory with only 10 % post operative complications, with less morbidity and no mortality. Results are comparable with Mayo series. Conclusion We conclude that, non descent vaginal hysterectomy is the natural, safe and feasible route of hysterectomy. A trained gynaecologist of this country can safely perform vaginal hysterectomy in indicated and properly selected patients even without genital prolapse. It is safe to do NDVH than abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy in medically high risk patients, where lack of endoscopy facility, trained medical and paramedical staff, skilled anaesthetic staff, and lack of postoperative monitoring and it is also cost effective. Previous LSCS is not a contraindication for NDVH. Key words Non descent vaginal hysterectomy (NDVH), Hysterectom