There is growing concern about self-medication during pregnancy in many low resource countries. Despite its adverse impact on pregnancy, at the eastern of DR Congo, no study was conducted on this question until now. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Bukavu town. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 14 health centers of Bukavu from March to April 2015. Multi stage sampling method was used to select 920 pregnant mothers. We chose fourteen health centers from all health centers in Bukavu by a simple random method. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to reveal association with self-medication practice. Results revealed a prevalence of self-medication (61.3%) among pregnant women interviewed. Reasons for practicing self-medication were disease not serious, prior experience about the drug, economical cost and easy access to the drug without prescription. The main drugs used were paracetamol (40.8%), amoxicillin (17.1%), and papaverin (13.4%). The factors associated with the self-medication in Bukavu town were previous self-medication practice, drugs advised by pharmacist/druggist, lack of sensibilisation on the drug
Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of contraceptive use among women met to the service of Gyneaco-obstetrics of the General Hospital of Referral Bagira.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in general hospital of referral Bagira from March to April 2013. A total of 162 women aged between 20-45 years participated in this study. Occasional sampling was used. The tool of data compilation was a questionnaire of investigation.
Results: Among these women, 60.5% used a contraceptive method during the period of study. Among users, pills and condoms were the most methods used. The religious beliefs and the side-effect fear constituted major barriers to the contraceptive practice. Determinants of the contraceptive practice were the woman's favorable attitude facing the contraception, the husband's implication in the contraceptive use, the conjugal dialogue on family planning and the desire besides to have child (p <0,05).
Conclusion: This study recommends the intensification of sittings of sensitization of the population and the better advice offer that would bring to better contraceptive method acceptability in that hospital.