Sociodemographic variation in prescriptions dispensed in early pregnancy in Northern Ireland 2010-2016.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To establish the prevalence of prescriptions dispensed in early pregnancy by maternal age and area deprivation, for women who gave birth in Northern Ireland (NI) 2011-2016.

Study design

Population-based linked cohort study.

Methods

The NI Maternity System (NIMATS) database was used to identify all births to resident mothers in NI between 2011 and 2016. Prescriptions dispensed between the last menstrual period (LMP) and the first antenatal care visit (mean 10.7 weeks) (2010-2016) were extracted from the Enhanced Prescribing Database (EPD) which records all prescriptions dispensed by pharmacists in NI. EPD data were linked to NIMATS using the mother's Health and Care Number. Maternal deprivation based on the NI Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017 was linked using the

SUBMITTER: Given J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9394805 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature