Trends over years and maternal characteristics associated with use of
recommended drugs during pregnancy in France: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Aim. Pregnant women require different nutritional intake such as folic
acid, iron and cholecalciferol, and specific vaccination to prevent
fetal abnormalities and improve outcomes.. This study aims to analyze
usage trends for these recommended drugs over the last decade, and to
identify maternal factors associated with their use. Methods. The
nationwide cross-sectional study is based on data from the French
national administrative health database, including pregnancies from 2012
to 2022. Folic acid, iron, cholecalciferol, and influenza vaccination
use were analyzed according to the relevant periods based on WHO and
French guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression assessed maternal
characteristics associated with drug use. Results. Analyzing 8,979,173
pregnancies, the study found that 46.0% of pregnancies used folic acid
during the periconceptional period, rising from 33.8% in 2012 to 52.6%
in 2022. Women with chronic disease and higher financial resources were
more likely to use it. 64.1% used iron during pregnancy with exposure
increasing with age. 35.5% used cholecalciferol, with higher
socioeconomic status associated with increased use. Only 5.1% were
vaccinated against influenza, with the rate increasing until 2020,
before declining. Vaccination was positively associated with maternal
age, the presence of a chronic disease, and higher financial resources.
Conclusion. This study revealed increasing trends of use in recommended
drugs during pregnancy over the last decade, although overall prevalence
remains not optimal, and concerning for influenza vaccination. The
identified risk factors for non-use include young maternal age, low
income, and deprived areas, emphasizing the need for targeted
interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.