Prescription opioid use in Australian women of reproductive age: Implications for unplanned pregnancies

Abstract

To examine trends in the prevalence and incidence of prescription opioid analgesic use in Australian women of reproductive age and to estimate the number of calendar months each year that women were dispensed opioids.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study involving women aged 15-44 years using pharmaceutical dispensing claims for a 10% random sample of Australians. For the period 2013-2020, we calculated the annual prevalence and incidence of opioid analgesic dispensing per 100 (%) population by opioid type and age group. We also estimated the total number of calendar months that women were dispensed at least 1 opioid each year.