A survey on midwives knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy and lactstion in the city of Kerman

Drugs are often used by women during pregnancy & lactstion. Midwives are among those giving service in maternal and child health programs, and are in contact with groups of pregnant & lactation women. In order to determine the midwives knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy and lactstion, this survey was carried out on all midwives of Kerman city ( n =۶۹) in June ۱۹۹۵, using a questionnaire based on the commonly Iran used ۳۹.۱℅ of midwives were technicians, ۴۶.۴℅ holders of bachelor degree ۸.۷℅ midwife nurses, ۴.۳℅ holders of master degree and ۱.۴℅ unknown. Mean age of midwives was ۳۰.۹ +_  ۶.۷ years and mean duration of their employment was ۷.۶ +_ ۶.۱ years with a median of ۶ years. ۹۲.۸℅ were working in governmental centers and ۷.۲℅ in private centers. The highest and least knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy was related to ferrous- sulfate with mean score of ۱.۸۴ +_ ۰.۴۴ and hyoscine with mean score of -۰.۱۳ +_۱.۵۸ respectively. The highest and least knowledge about drug usage in lactation were related to acetaminophen with mean score of ۰.۸ +_۰.۶۱ and imipramine with mean score of -۰.۵۲ +_ ۰.۸۶. the analysis of variance ( ANOVA) of data showed no significant statistical relationship between the midwives knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy  and lactstion, with age, education, and duration of employment. The results indicated that ۲۰℅ of midwives  had no knowledge about drug usage in pregnancy and ۵۱℅ had no knowledge about drug usage in lactation, therefore there seem to be a need for more training programs for midwives.