Background: Maternal and newborn mortality is a global public health issue. Pakistan is lagging much behind in target of improving maternal and child health due to underutilization of antenatal care services. Aim: To determine utilization of the ANC services by pregnant women and barriers in utilization of ANC services at primary health care level of Hazro District Attock. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Hazro of District Attock, Pakistan with sample size of 425 pregnant women in their third trimester selected by simple random sampling technique over a period of six months from Jan 2021 to Jun 2021. A structured Questionnaire was used for the data collection regarding the barriers related to utilization of antenatal care services by interview. Analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of women was 27.76±5.41 years with 75.8% were from rural side. In socioeconomic status 60.5% women had high, 33.4% had middle and 6.1% had low status of socioeconomic. The complete utilization of antenatal cares were observed in 62.8% women. We found distance of health care facility (p=0.006), transport availability (p=0.0001), cost of transport (p=0.0001), availability of personnel and services (p=0.006), ambulance availability (p=0.006) and working hours of health care facility (p=0.004) as a main barriers. Practical implication: The results of current study will help in providing MCH services at door step with proper planning to minimize the barriers in utilization of ANC services for the community. Conclusions: We conclude that Utilization of MCH services by pregnant women at primary care level in Hazro of District Attock was low i.e. 62.8%. The barriers in the utilization of MCH services at PHC level were financial poverty crisis, distance of antenatal care facility, transport availability, cost of transport, poor medical facilities, absence of ambulance and working hours are important barriers in seeking and availing antenatal care services. Keywords: ANC services, pregnant women, barriers, utilization, primary health care level, District Attock

Objective: The purpose of our study was to assess the trends of self-medication practices and to determine the prevalence, characteristics, related factors, and effects of self-medication among the patients conducted. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was on patients of Combined Military Hospital Lahore on a sample size of 365. The data was collected and entered in a predesigned questionnaire about self-medication later analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 95.3% and effectiveness was 87.7%. The common reasons for self-medication were prior knowledge of usefulness of remedy (63.3%), non-affordability of consultant charges (18.4%), and lack of time (21.9%). Frequently used medicines included antibiotics (30.1%), analgesics (69.6%), antipyretics (51.0%), and antihistamines (23.6%). Respondents claimed to receive information about these drugs from various sources including doctor (38.6%), previous prescription (31.8%), retailer seller (13.4%), family/friends (43.6%), media (7.9%) and other sources (1.6%). Conclusion: It had been concluded that there is a high prevalence of self-medication. There is a need to raise public awareness about the appropriate use in order to prevent potential hazards of self-medication. Key Words: trends, self-medication, out-patient department How to cite: Khan B.A.A, Muzahir F, Rauf S.A, Fatima S.R, Pervaiz A, Jamil S. Trends of self- medication amongst the patients visiting the out-patient department of Combined Military Hospital, Lahore. Esculapio.2021. 30-33

Objective: The purpose of our study was to assess the trends of self-medication practices and to determine the prevalence, characteristics, related factors, and effects of self-medication among the patients conducted. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was on patients of Combined Military Hospital Lahore on a sample size of 365. The data was collected and entered in a predesigned questionnaire about self-medication later analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 95.3% and effectiveness was 87.7%. The common reasons for self-medication were prior knowledge of usefulness of remedy (63.3%), non-affordability of consultant charges (18.4%), and lack of time (21.9%). Frequently used medicines included antibiotics (30.1%), analgesics (69.6%), antipyretics (51.0%), and antihistamines (23.6%). Respondents claimed to receive information about these drugs from various sources including doctor (38.6%), previous prescription (31.8%), retailer seller (13.4%), family/friends (43.6%), media (7.9%) and other sources (1.6%). Conclusion: It had been concluded that there is a high prevalence of self-medication. There is a need to raise public awareness about the appropriate use in order to prevent potential hazards of self-medication. Key Words: trends, self-medication, out-patient department How to cite: Khan B.A.A, Muzahir F, Rauf S.A, Fatima S.R, Pervaiz A, Jamil S. Trends of self- medication amongst the patients visiting the out-patient department of Combined Military Hospital, Lahore. Esculapio.2021. 30-33