Abstract
Background: High-risk pregnancy is defined as pregnancy complicated by factors that can adversely affect maternal and perinatal outcome. About 10–30% of pregnancies are high risk which accounts for 70–80% perinatal mortality and morbidity. Drug utilization data help to monitor the drugs prescribed and to assess the outcome by evaluating appropriateness and rationality of prescription.

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the pattern of drug use in high-risk pregnancy and to assess the WHO core prescribing indicator and US FDA category.

Materials and Methods: A total of 250 case record forms of pregnant women admitted to high-risk ward were analyzed. Patient’s demographic data and detailed information about prescription were recorded and analyzed as per the WHO core drug prescribing indicators and US-FDA category. Descriptive statistics were used.

Results: A total of 1121 drugs were prescribed among which antimicrobials (33.7%) were used more frequently followed by antihypertensive (13.9%), intravenous (609, 54.2%) route was the major route of drug administration, followed by oral (527, 47%), intramuscular (33, 2.9%), and subcutaneous (16, 1.4%). Average number of drugs per encounter was 4.48, percentage of encounters with an antimicrobials prescribed is around 70.4%, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 93.5%, percentage of drugs prescribed from essential drugs list was 73.3%, and percentage of encounters with an injection prescribed was 50.4%. Majority of drugs belong to the US-FDA pregnancy Category B (45.04%), followed by Category C (39.4%), A (10.8%), and D (4.6%).

Conclusion: Majority of drugs were prescribed by generic name and belonged to Category B drugs which are considered safe. Standards of prescription were in accordance with the WHO prescribing indicators. Overall prescribing behavior is rational and encouraging.

Key words: High-Risk Pregnancy; Pre-eclampsia; Prescribing Indicators; US-FDA Category