Assessment of Self-Medication Awareness During Pregnancy Among Saudi Women in Madinah: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Self-medication during pregnancy constitutes a considerable public health issue, presenting potential hazards to both maternal and fetal health. Notwithstanding global awareness initiatives, there is a paucity of research on self-medication habits among Saudi women, especially in Madinah. Objective The study aims to assess awareness levels of self-medication during pregnancy and identify primary factors affecting knowledge among Saudi women in Madinah. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed at designated healthcare facilities in Madinah from October to December 2024. A validated questionnaire was conducted with 400 pregnant women via face-to-face interviews. We classified awareness scores as poor, moderate, or good and conducted statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Among the 400 participants, 194 (48.5%) were aged between 31 and 40 years, and 182 (45.5%) held bachelor's degrees. The most used over-the-counter (OTC) medications were analgesics/antipyretics (369, 92.4%) and folic acid (394, 98.5%). Only 50 (37.5%) demonstrated good awareness of self-medication risks. Higher education (p = 0.001), employment (p = 0.028), and higher income (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased awareness. Conclusion Although the majority of pregnant women had a moderate understanding of self-medication hazards, targeted educational initiatives are essential, especially for individuals with lower socioeconomic levels. Enhancing public health policies and awareness initiatives can mitigate the hazards associated with self-medication during pregnancy.