MIDWIFERY STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE AND OPINIONS ABOUT DRUGS USED DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Abstract

Drug use during pregnancy and lactation is still a controversial and difficult issue in practice due to the lack of benefit-damage assessments of evidence-based studies. The present study was planned to determine midwifery students knowledge and opinions about drugs used during pregnancy and lactation that will provide pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers with training and counseling about the safe use of drugs during pregnancy and lactation. The study conducted with students studying at the Midwifery Department of Faculty of Health Sciences has a descriptive design. No sampling method was implemented in this present study. Of the aforementioned students, 219 who agreed to participate in this study, were included in the study. The data obtained were analysed with the frequency distribution and chi-square test using the SPSS 22.0. Of the participating students, 45.2% were knowledgeable about drug use during pregnancy and lactation, 60.7% obtained their knowledge at the midwifery school, 47.5% knew the effects of drug contents used during pregnancy on the pregnant woman and fetus, and 43.8% knew the effects of the contents of drugs used during lactation on the mother and baby. The results of the study demonstrated that the participating midwifery students knowledge about drugs used during pregnancy and lactation and diseases caused by these drugs was low. Therefore, it is extremely important to equip midwifery students with adequate and accurate knowledge since they will provide training and consulting related to drugs used during pregnancy and lactation for those who are in need in order to protect the health of mothers, infants and the public.