Abstract Background Self‐medication practice among pregnant women is a global concern. However, its understanding in the Indian context is limited due to a lack of comprehensive studies. Purpose This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of self‐medication, the medications used for self‐medication, diseases/conditions associated with self‐medication, and the reasons for self‐medication among Indian pregnant women. Methods This study was carried out following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA). A thorough search was done in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar to find articles that were published up until May 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies reporting self‐medication prevalence among pregnant women in India. Data were extracted using a standardized sheet, and a random‐effects model was applied to determine the overall prevalence of self‐medication using R software. The I 2 statistic was employed to assess the heterogeneity among the studies. Results This study analyzed eight studies with a collective sample size of 2208 pregnant women. The pooled prevalence of self‐medication among pregnant Indian women was 19.3% (95% CI: 7.5%–41.3%; I 2 = 99%; p < 0.01). Common self‐treated conditions were cold, cough, fever, headache, and stomach disorders. Antipyretics, analgesics, antihistamines, and antacids were frequently used for self‐medication. The perception of mild ailment, immediate alleviation, convenience, time savings, and advice from family, friends, or the media were all reasons for self‐medication. Local pharmacies were the most usual source for obtaining drugs, and pharmacists, family, friends, and past prescriptions were common sources of medicine information. Conclusions A low yet substantial number of pregnant women in India are engaged in self‐medication practices. Appropriate strategies need to be planned to reduce self‐medication practices to attain sustainable developmental goals for maternal health in India.
Miltefosine stands as the sole oral medication approved for the treatment of leishmaniasis. The appearance of severe ophthalmic toxicities induced by miltefosine in the context of leishmaniasis treatment is a matter of significant concern. The main objective of this study is to present a comprehensive summary of the ophthalmic adverse effects associated with miltefosine when used in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Perinatal women living with HIV face increased susceptibility to mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation (SI). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SI among perinatal women with HIV and identify associated factors. A systematic search was done across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Data analysis was executed using R software. Publication bias was assessed via funnel plot and Egger's test, while heterogeneity was investigated using the I2 statistic. A total of 11 studies involving 4329 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of SI was 23.4% (95% CI: 16.3–32.4). Subgroup analysis showed higher prevalence in postnatal women (36.4%) than antenatal women (27.8%), although this difference was not statistically significant. Studies employing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale reported a higher prevalence (38.9%). Studies published between 2013–2017 showed a higher prevalence (37.6%) compared to those published between 2018–2022 (18.2%). Factors associated with SI included depression during pregnancy or postpartum, unplanned pregnancy, intimate partner violence, undisclosed HIV status, lack of social support, and recent diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections other than HIV. The high prevalence of SI emphasizes the need for mental health screening and interventions. Mental health assessments should be integrated into routine antenatal and postnatal care.
PURPOSE Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the sixth most common cancer, with approximately 225,419 new cases with over 125,000 deaths annually in India. This trial compared the efficacy and safety of biosimilar cetuximab versus innovator cetuximab (IC) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with recurrent locoregional or metastatic SCCHN. METHODS This phase III trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind and parallel group study performed in Indian patients with recurrent locoregional or metastatic SCCHN. Patients were randomly assigned in 2:1 ratio to receive biosimilar cetuximab and IC in combination with cisplatin and fluorouracil via intravenous infusions. The primary end points were disease control rate (DCR) and overall response rate (ORR) as per response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1. The secondary end points included pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability. RESULTS Of 180 patients enrolled, 120 patients received biosimilar cetuximab and 60 patients received IC treatment. No significant statistical difference was observed in the primary outcomes between two groups. Treatment difference in DCR and ORR response was found to be –5.21 (90% CI, –8.94 to –1.48) and –4.79 (90% CI, –19.42 to 9.84), respectively, indicating noninferiority to reference product. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs; biosimilar cetuximab: 89.2% v IC: 91.7%; P = .8364) and serious AEs (biosimilar cetuximab: 23.3% v IC: 13.3%; P = .0603) and PK parameters were comparable between treatment groups. The immunogenicity findings showed higher incidence of anticetuximab antibodies in the biosimilar cetuximab group compared with the IC group at the end of Study. CONCLUSION The findings of this study demonstrated noninferiority along with comparable PK, safety, and immunogenicity of biosimilar cetuximab and IC in patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN.
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