Gerbier, EvaEvaGerbierFavre, GuillaumeGuillaumeFavreTauqeer, FatimaFatimaTauqeerWinterfeld, UrsulaUrsulaWinterfeldStojanov, MilosMilosStojanovOliver, AlisonAlisonOliverPassier, AnnekeAnnekePassierNordeng, HedvigHedvigNordengPomar, LéoLéoPomarBaud, DavidDavidBaudPanchaud Monnat, Alice Elke MartineAlice Elke MartinePanchaud MonnatMeyer-Massetti, Carla VerenaCarla VerenaMeyer-MassettiCeulemans, MichaelMichaelCeulemans2024-10-112024-10-112022-04-27https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/85095Information on medication utilization among pregnant and postpartum women during the pandemic is lacking. We described the prevalence and patterns of self-reported medication use among pregnant and postpartum women during the third wave of the pandemic (June-August 2021). An online questionnaire was distributed in five European countries between June-August 2021. Pregnant women or women who had delivered in the three preceding months, and ≥18 years old, could participate. The prevalence of overall medication use, self-medication, and changes in chronic medication use were determined. A total of 2158 women out of 5210 participants (41.4%) used at least one medication. Analgesics (paracetamol), systemic antihistamines (cetirizine), and drugs for gastric disorders (omeprazole) were the three most used classes. Anti-infectives were less prevalent than during pre-pandemic times. Antidepressants and anxiety related medication use remained similar, despite a higher prevalence of these symptoms. Self-medication was reported in 19.4% of women, and 4.1% of chronic medication users reported that they changed a chronic medication on personal initiative due to the pandemic. In conclusion, medication use patterns in our cohort were mostly similar to those of the first COVID-19 wave and the pre-pandemic period. More studies are needed to explore factors associated with self-medication and changes in chronic medication use due to the pandemic in this perinatal population.enCOVID-19 Europe chronic disease drug utilization medication use pandemic pharmacoepidemiology postpartum pregnancy self-medication300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social services600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48350/1700443556473310.3390/ijerph19095335